Often the captive birds sold at places like Parrot Jungle and pet stores come from deplorable breeding mills, similar to puppy mills. The breeder birds are treated as mere commodities and are rarely removed from their nest boxes. A bird that cannot choose his or her mate may become depressed, especially if separated from a previous partner.
There isn't just an overpopulation crisis with dogs and cats. Animal shelters and bird-rescue groups are overwhelmed with discarded, lonely, neurotic, mistreated pet-shop birds -- birds that Parrot Jungle, Petco, and other similar stores continue to sell.
Birds in these pet stores may also be infected with psittacosis, a disease that can easily be spread from bird to bird and also to human beings. Young children, the elderly, and people with impaired immune systems are especially vulnerable to the virus.
It is both inhumane and unsafe to buy a bird from a pet store. Anyone wanting more information can visit www.PETA.org.
Heather Moore
People for the Ethical Treatment of Animals
Norfolk, Virginia
Squawk: The Parrots of Old Pinecrest
They're gone, along with other good things: I've truly enjoyed Humberto Guida's pieces on Parrot Jungle ("Our Feathered Friends," October 30, and "For the Birds," July 10). I grew up in Pinecrest, went to Epiphany Catholic School with the daughters of one of the original owners (the Scherr family), and even worked one summer (back in 1976) in the box-office booth. Parrot Jungle was always so special and unique, so beautiful. I was saddened to hear they were leaving because of the poor birds.
Humberto wrote exactly what I had imagined would be the new jungle. It's awful, the setting is awful, everything about it is awful. This just proves again the new trend in Pinecrest and all over Miami to tear down our natural foliage and replace it with tacky, concrete McMansions. ¡Olé! to him for writing the truth. That's why I love New Times. Keep up the good reporting.
Pat Brid
Pinecrest
Squawk: Pay to See Parrots?
Not after reading about shackles and dirt: Thanks to Humberto Guida for the brutal account of the "improved" Parrot Jungle. As a guardian to eight birds, including a macaw and a cockatoo, I was appalled at the picture he painted of the horrific conditions. Shackles? How barbaric! Filth? Deplorable!
Many of us who are "owned" by birds are doing our best to educate people about how to care for birds properly, while those with money but no sense destroy our efforts. If this is what Parrot Jungle offers to visitors, is it no wonder that those wonderful creatures are neglected and abused each year by seemingly superior humans?
Thanks for the story -- it saved us money and heartbreak.
Diane Shepherd
Jacksonville
