 |
| Denali Blue and Gold Macaw |
Date:
September, 2007
We found Mark and Rita via the internet, I contacted them and a few other breeders. We chose Mark and Rita because they were so much more friendly, they were willing to talk with us, and wanted to know something about us before they
would offer us one of their beautiful babies. The other breeders also made it
abundantly clear that once the baby was here at home, they no longer offered
advice of any kind, Mark and Rita have told us all along that we were welcomed
to call anytime, whether we had questions, or even just wanted to chat.
Rita
emailed me in late March to let me know that we're going to start breeding their
blue and golds. We were so excited!!! Then in April she sent another email, and
informed us that our baby had been hatched, and a few days later the sweetest
picture. She sent pictures every few weeks, it seemed like forever for us, and
I plagued Rita's emails! Rita never lost patience with me and answered me every
time. I know I must have driven her crazy!
Then the day finally arrived when she said that our little girl was ready to
come home. They shipped four babies that day, the other three were able to stay
together for a lot of their way, but poor little Denali was by herself from the
get-go. She had to travel the least distance, and ended up being delivered just
about last I think, due to plane delays. She'd been in her travel carrier all
day long, and in the plane with a puppy, when she first saw us, she yipped just
like a puppy and our real love affair began!
She didn't take long to warm up to us, she has her favorites, and a different
relationship with everyone in the house, my husband, myself, and our three kids.
She is sweet, funny, loveable,affectionate and calm.
She's also the quietest little bird I've ever seen. She vocalizes a lot, but she doesn't scream, the only time she's
loud, is when she's really excited and prould of herself, usually after getting
away with something she knows she isn't supposed to do.
She makes us laugh every
day, and Rita and Mark aren't lying when they say their babies love to be loved.
I still email them regularly, and we'd still like to take a trip to meet them in
person, Denali too of course.
We're so grateful to Rita and Mark, they are truly the best at what they do,
and you can tell by talking with them how much they enjoy their companions!!!
Tracy and Byron,
Apple Valley, CA
|
| Aspen Greenwing
Macaw |
Date:
April, 2007
Rita and Mark,
Just wanted to update you on our first 6 months
together. I couldn't have asked for a better
bird. Aspen is the life of the party around
here! We've been busy learning new tricks and
saying hello. He's so responsive and affectionate.
Loves to be held and rubbed all over. If done
to long (about 60 seconds) he turns into a
puddle of feathers.
The weather has started to warm up here and
he now joins us for dog walks. Doesn't mind
the feather tether and gets anxious to go,
when he sees it. And the kids, they get so
excited and squeal whenever we're out and about.
Not quite sure who has more fun there?
He's still a big boy at over 3lbs. Eats everything
offered and loves to drop food for the dogs.
I truly appreciate and applaud all the effort
you both put into making him a mentally and
emotionally well rounded bird. He's fearless,
easy going and always willing to try something
new. And looks forward to doing it. Makes taking
the reins from you seem so effortless, especially
from a beginners stand point. The best part
is - you're only a phone call away if I need
it.
Thank you again for the opportunity to be owned
by an exceptional bird, from an equally exceptional
breeder.
Karen
Auburn, WA
|
| Kopi Blue
and Gold Macaw |
Date: February, 2007
From the O... family
Rita and Mark,
Kopi has now been part of our family for
3 months! She is an
incredible being and our involvement with
her goes so far beyond
enjoying a "pet" that words just
don't begin to describe the level of
interaction and connection of spirits that
exists with Kopi for each
of us. Our wait for Kopi felt like forever;
our experiences with the
2 pet shop birds that didn't work out that
were the catalyst that led
us to Avian Adventures Aviary now seems like
fate. We were meant to
find each other and for Kopi to be here.
Everyday she makes me smile,
laugh like a silly woman or just brings me
to the point of tears -
joyful-heartfelt tears of blessing for this
gift that is Kopi. We
cannot thank you both enough for the part
you played in Kopi's first
months of life. She is beautiful inside and
out because of your love
and care!
The best,
Love from Cyndi O...
Rita and Mark,
I was, at first, skeptical about taking on
the responsiblity of
another animal (in the zoo we already have).
However, Kopi has turned
out to be a welcome addition. I have the
morning shift and we usually
spend an hour or two playing and scritching.
It is a fun way to start
the day. As Cyndi would tell you, I am the
spoiler, not much of a
disciplinarian, but I think we get along
well. Thank you for raising
a healthy, beautiful bird and the advice
you continue to give us.
Kopi is Kool!!
Sincerely,
Jay O...
Rita and Mark,
Thank you so much for the effort and care
you put into Kopi to shape
her into the amazing familiy member we have
received. The wait was
undeniably worth it, and based on what they
have seen with Kopi, my friends may be future
customers.
Kip O...
Rita and Mark,
I just wanted to let you both know that
my family and I are truly
blessed to have found you and our wonderful
new addition to the
family...Kopi! Not a day goes by that we
are not amazed as to how
intelligent this creature is and how lucky
we are that she came from
you! We love her more and more each day and
can only imagine what the
future holds as she matures further and we
see her "true" colors. The
"
teen" years are approaching faster than
we thought. LOL. Kopi is so
smart and she is learning so many new things...
It is very telling of where and who she came
from. You guys gave us
and raised up an exquisite animal (although
she thinks she is a
human) and we could not be more grateful!
Your are the best! Take
care and we will talk to you soon.
Kealy O...
The O... Family
Chesapeake, VA
|
| Puck
Blue and Gold Macaw |
Date: September, 2006
Hi Rita and Mark,
I wanted to express how fortunate Bob and
I are to have found you both!
When we began looking into getting our Blue
and Gold, we did what most people do these
days: we turned to the Internet, which is a
great way to locate breeders and other resources.
We visited countless websites for aviaries
located everywhere, from California to New
York. It was all a bit overwhelming, but we
started making a couple of inquires--my e-mails
simply asked if they had, or were expecting,
any B&G's--people wrote back and offered
to put our names on their waiting lists; no
one asked a single question about us, personally.
When I wrote to you, you e-mailed back right
away and asked to set up a phone call. I thought, "this
is great--she actually cares who we are!" After
speaking with you, I was convinced that Avian
Adventures was where we would find our new
flock member. I didn't care how long we had
to wait for a baby. I wrote to the other couple
of people of whom I'd make inquires and let
them know we'd selected a different aviary.
When you invited us to Barbara Heidenreich's
workshop that you were hosting in your home,
we were thrilled--the opportunity to meet you,
see the aviary and meet our baby was enough,
but to participate in a workshop taught by
someone of Barbara's caliber was doubly exciting--we
couldn't wait!
Once inside your home, as the workshop began,
it was evident that you and Mark were there
to learn, right along with the rest of us--there
was no feeling that you "knew it all already".
That, to me, speaks volumes toward the amount
of dedication you both possess--continuing
education is vastly important in any arena,
but when lives are involved, it is of the utmost
importance.
Now--all that said, how did our baby, Puck,
turn out? The answer is quite simply, "amazing." I
have never known a more trusting animal--she
has absolutely no fear--not an ounce. She is
both loving and independent--a completely happy
and well-adjusted bird. I could not have asked
for, nor did I even expect, such a wonderful
baby. Honestly, she really does "love
to be loved."
The time and effort you and Mark put into
raising these birds is quite obvious--I
encourage anyone who is looking to bring a
new bird-child into their lives to contact
Rita and Mark. You'll know right away, just
like we knew, that these are the people you
want to raise your bird.
We will always consider you Puck's "biological" parents.
Thank you, again and always,
Emily and Bob
Los Altos, CA.
|
| Billy Greenwing
Macaw, |
Date:
October, 2006
The Story of
Billy a very special green wing.
To all the folks out there looking for a special
friend, you cannot get any better than
buying your bird from Mark and Rita.
My story goes like this. One day last
year while looking on the internet at Macaw
breeders I came upon Avian Adventures Aviary.
I sat there and read every part of their website.
I was so impressed with what I read I called
my husband and said we HAVE to meet these people!
The adventure began by a warm call to Rita,
then a deposit for a future EGG! owow were
we excited!
Not
to long, a call came that our baby was born,
followed by pictures every few weeks.
Everyone in our town got to see, my husband
is a bartender
so everyone down there saw to. Many
people followed the progress of baby billy,
it was
so fun to share this with others. It finally
came time to get to visit. We live six
hours away and we could not wait to see the
little fellow! When we arrived, it so happened
that Barbara Heidenreich was doing a weekend
class-- double bonus, that we saw our guy
for the first time... cuddled in Rita's arms
with four Blue and Golds, love at first
sight!
We got an exceptional baby, he has been a
complete joy in our lives and he has been given
so
much love and training that it makes our job
to
carry on so easy! It was great to also take
the class there too and boy do you learn a
lot, meet all kinds of parrot people and
swap such FUNNY stories. A weekend of
laughter and knowledge and you feel like you
have been given an amazing gift to be able
to live
with these incredible creatures in harmony.
The training and time Rita and Mark put into
their
birds is so worth it for the bird's future
and yours. Billy is nothing but loving, so
easy to
handle and gets along great with our other
two macaws -- going to the vet the other day
was a joy -- and all this you get with Rita
and Mark, these birds are raised with a good
foundation and we have found it to be really
easy to maintain it. THEIR BABIES LOVE TO BE
LOVED!!!!!!!! and you will LOVE TO LOVE THEIR
BABIES!!!!!!!!
I could not recommend them more!
We have Had Billy now for four months and Rita
and I have been in touch every few weeks, she
will be there to answer any questions you have
and their knowledge is huge! She is extremely
easy to talk to and every time you talk you
will learn something more and isn¹t
that what its all about?
If you are like me out there reading
sites... don¹t go any further... you
have found who you are looking for... I just
don't
think it gets any better than these two, Mark
and Rita.
Thank you for enhancing our lives soooooo
much.
Buying one of these birds is a lifetime commitment
and you have given us a lifetime of learning
and enjoyment.
Big love and kisses from Billy
Karolynne and Doug
Half Moon Bay, CA.
|
| Sammy Blue
and Gold Macaw |
Date: May, 2006
Hi Rita and Mark,
I really don't know where to start, but I guess
saying thank you for
starters is adequate.
Sammy has helped me and
my family deal with the loss
of a dear family member as you already knew.
I can't say enough about how
well trained your babies are and how easy the
transition was for me. It was
like you guys gave me a parrot with memorized
instructions on how to behave
and live life. Sammy is doing very well and learning
a lot. He has become
bilingual in that he has learned spanish and
english words. I guess cause
both languages are spoken in my household in
order for my daughters to
become fluent in both.
He loves to eat. Boy,
does he love to eat, lol! He
loves his grapes and other fruits. He will also
destroy any toy that is put
in his path. In addition, he enjoys his time
in the play gym where he flaps
his wings for everyone to see how beautiful they
are.
Once again thank you
Rita and Mark at Avian Adventures Aviary who
made this possible.
Manny
Wesley Chapel, Florida
|
| Mojo Greenwing
Macaw |
Date: December, 2005
Hi Rita,
Just an update to let you know Mojo is doing
great. This guy has never met a stranger!
He has yet to take a serious nip out of anyone.
He likes to be held on his back and have
his belly rubbed when we have our cuddles.
He's very loving and wants cuddles first
thing every morning. I had him out on his
cage earlier today, and I went in the other
room--the next thing I know, here he comes
waddling down the hall looking for me! It
was SO cute!
I've got a giant (well, 5 ft. tall) manzanita tree perch at my boyfriend's
house for our visits there. Mojo and he are buddies also, Mojo knows
when my boyfriend comes over there's almost always a birdie treat involved.
Shameless bribery, if you ask me!
Anyway, mommy and birdie are doing great! Just wanted to let you know!
Thanks again!
Micaela
Houston, Texas
|
| Buddy Blue
and Gold Macaw |
Date: November, 2005
We are fortunate to live an hour from Rita and Mark. While searching
for a macaw, we visited several places from large pet stores to bird
shops and breeders. Avian Adventures Aviary is completely different.
The love, care, and individual attention each of their babies receive
is beyond anything we found. From their meticulous feeding regime to
their flight cage where the babies learn to fly and play, to the training...
it is beyond belief.
I am amazed at how well our two daughters (12 & 9) and Buddy are
doing together. Our youngest has a mild case of cerebral palsy. Rita
and Mark showed them how to play on the table, work with Buddy and interact
with him. Buddy has a special relationship with each of us. He loves
to be cuddled. In fact, it is as important as his blueberries, and peanuts
(Those are his favorite foods) The girls eat breakfast and dinner with
him and love reading to him after school. He has become an important
part of our family. Avian Adventures Aviary raises loving parrots. There
is no one I would recommend more highly for a healthy, well socialized
and loving family parrot.
Denise and Jim
Cottonwood, CA
|
| Monkey Greenwing
Macaw |
Date: November, 2005
Hi Rita ~
Wanted to send you a note to let you know
how we're doing. First, we've changed his
name to Monkey from Matey. We felt that is
WAY more descriptive of his personality.
He is definitely a best buddy type of bird
but he is so adventurous and an avid climber
we couldn't resist the name change. He seems
to really like the name and recognized it
almost immediately. He is fully flighted
and is doing really well with the flight
training.
Monkey is very good at the recall command now and will fly back and forth
from one of us to the other on command. We have been mainly rewarding
him with affection since he seems to value that above the treats. The
one thing that still totally amazes us is how docile he is. He will willingly
climb onto anyone's hand and let them pet him! He is hands down the friendliest
bird we have ever met.
Thanks for everything and Cheers!
Jeremy and Evelyn
Santa Rosa, CA
|
| Tallulah Blue
and Gold Macaw |
Date: November, 2005
Dear Mark and Rita,
Tallulah has been home less than two weeks and she has changed the entire
household. Her gentle squawks wake me every morning, her conversations
with the rest of the "flock" keep me entertained all day, and
her soft beak grinding is the last sound I hear at night.
I have never known such a well adjusted, loving parrot. She doesn't seem
to know how to bite, she eagerly eats everything I offer, and the only
sounds she makes are conversational, not screeching or demanding. I have
taken her to my high school class and the students adore her. She flies
to their arms on command, which thrills them. She shares their fruit
at break and their hamburger buns (just a little) at lunch. "Ms.
Hobbs, I think she likes me a lot!" Could there be anything more
positive for their self images than the love of a big, beautiful baby
girl? Years after graduation they may not remember the names of their
teachers, but I know they will remember Tallulah.
I knew Tallulah was going to be precious the first time I met her when
we made the trip up to your home and aviary. What a wonderful place for
baby birds to begin their lives. It is so warm, safe and friendly. I
loved sitting in your walk in, outdoor aviary and playing with all the
birds. You have been a great help to me. Thank you so much for my "Baby
LuLu". She is everything I had hoped she'd be.
Stephanie
Canyon Lake, CA
|
| Blue Blue
and Gold Macaw |
Date: October, 2005
Hi Rita and Mark,
Just a short note to let you know that Blue is doing great !!!!!! You
really fulfilled your promise on how sweet & gentle & loving
your babies really are. Blue is still a Daddy's girl, much to his delight.
LOL I must say as much as I love Beep (Congo African Gray) & Baby
(Cockatoo), what a difference in getting a baby from you as to getting
adult birds. It took a lot of patience & bites to earn their trust
(They were both abused & had many different homes). When Blue wants
to cuddle she says up, up & lifts her little foot, it's the cutest
thing I've ever seen. She also says hello. She's not only beautiful but
extremely smart as well... no bragging here on my part. LOL
You fulfill your promises a thousand fold on your babies, if you are
ever in need of a reference, please feel free to give my name & number,
or E-mail. I can't express enough how truly wonderful & loving Blue
is. I wouldn't part with her for anything in this world! I would like
to get a Green Wing in the future, & when I'm ready I will be calling
you again!!! I know anyone that gets one of your babies will be blessed
with such a gentle, loving baby they will fall head over heels in love
as we have done with Blue. Well, I will close for now. Blue is up, upping & lifting
her foot, last cuddle before bed. LOL Thank you doesn't seem adequate
for my beautiful blue baby. She will be loved till the end of her days.
I gave her some mashed sweet potatoes tonight. She loved them. She has
been eating great, isn't fussy at all. I have put some different things
(Veggies & a bird recipe my neighbor across the road makes for her)
in her crazy corn & she tries it all. She's a little bit spoiled.
LOL Take care & Thank You again for my beautiful Blue!!!!!!
Deb
Kenduskeag, Maine
|
| Sunny Blue
and Gold Macaw |
Date: September, 2005
It was about two years ago I decided that I wanted
to get a Macaw. I started to search for a breeder
and did not find one that I liked. This fall I
found mark and Rita on the internet. They took
the time to teach my family and me how to care
for our new baby macaw. We were blessed to be able
to get Sunny. He has a sweet disposition and is
easy to care for, a real joy to be with. My father
retired in December just before we went to pick
Sunny up to bring home and they are now buddies.
My dad now has a constant companion and I no longer
worry about how he will fill his days. I would
highly recommend avian adventures aviary if you
are considering adapting a large bird. I am already
planning to adopt a cockatoo this spring.
Susan
Fresno, CA
|
| Dobby Blue
and Gold Macaw |
Date: November, 2004
Dobby
Hope all is well with you. Dobby has been settling in more and more, and
surprising us more and more with what a gentle, calm, sweet bird he is.
I just wanted to share with you.
We have had a couple of friends come over swearing that nothing could
convince them to touch such a large bird after knowing a conure or a
budgie who was nippy - find themselves half an hour later holding Dobby
and giving him scratches...and not wanting to put him down. One of them
even described him as “So much less intimidating than the smaller
birds.”
We have watched our nieces and nephew (4-6 years old) interact with
him petting him (under close supervision of course), and crawling around
behind him playing “follow the leader” around the house.
Dobby showing no fear or aggression, only looking back every once in
a while at his entourage.
We have taken him out around the neighborhood and shopping at a local
pet supply store. He never seems nervous around the people who want to
stop and admire and ask questions, and always gladly accepts a head scratch
or two from anyone brave enough to ask if they can.
We have enjoyed watching him waddle around the floor of our house when
we have had company over. Going to each stranger sitting on the floor
of our tv room, climbing up onto their hand our lap to introduce himself,
and climbing back down after a few minutes to make his way to the next
person.
Thank you and thank Mark for all of the love and work you guys have
obviously put into raising him. It shows more and more every day how
special he is, and how fortunate he was to have you guys. If anyone is
ever looking for a reference, please feel free to put them in contact
with us.
Sincerely,
Holmes
Alabama
|
| Kokoma Greenwing
Macaw |
Date: Aug 2004
Our Adventure with Avian Adventures Aviary
The search was on, we had decided to add a greenwinged macaw to our flock
this would be our last. So we searched and searched to find what we wanted.
I have three other macaws so I pretty much was looking for someone that
was not just a breeder, but someone that really loved and cared about the
babies. I had actually passed up breeders because I just didn't feel the
connection with them.
I found Avian Adventures on the internet (I thought ok I'll contact
them like I did the rest)
Well I got the call from Rita we started talking and I knew this is
where I would get my baby, the search was over never meeting them at
this time I felt comfortable and knew I had made the right decision.
I had the privilege of visiting Kokoma and meeting Rita and Mark (we
live about five hours away) It was an awesome visit. I felt a strange
kind of connection confirming I had made the right decision. We spent
most of the afternoon with them and enjoyed the visit tremendously. When
we left we had smiles all the way home.
Kokoma has been home for a little over a month now, she is everything
I could of imagined. She is sweet, loving, gentle.
I can't say enough good things about Rita and Mark. I am experienced
with macaws and their babies show the loving way they raise them to become
family members.
HATS OFF TO YOU RITA AND MARK FOR A JOB WELL DONE!!! YOU BOTH HAVE ALL
MY RESPECT FOR THE LOVE OF THE BIRDS!
Sincerely,
Darla & Tracy
Bakersfield, CA
|
| Gracie Greenwing
Macaw |
Date: Mar. 2004
Gracie's Story
Well Gracie has been home now for a week and I wanted to update you
on her progress. For those who don't know Gracie, she was a late baby
last year (August). As the only baby with no clutch mates, Gracie had
the opportunity to grow up with Rita's companion birds.
From the very beginning Gracie was a very different baby. She did not
read the rule book prior to hatching. Gracie did everything different!
Starting with belonging to a previous owner who was diagnosed with a
chronic illness, and with Gracie's best interest at heart, decided that
she would not be able to take care of her. So this owner relinquished
this tiny little baby to find a new home. Rita and I had spoken prior
to this as I was investigating breeders and looking for that special
green wing baby.
To my surprise, Rita screened me, my family, my living/financial arrangements,
and long term goals very closely to see if I was worthy of one of her
babies. Well at that point Gracie belonged to someone else, but I passed
the screening and was first on the list for the year 2004 to obtain a
baby green wing. Then that wonderful day began and I got an email from
Rita explaining the situation with Gracie and if I was interested she
had a baby for me. Needless to say we jumped at the chance!
Why am I telling this story? I want everyone who is considering a new
baby, be it green wing or not to do your homework. Check out the breeders
and check out there statistics. Rita and Mark have done their homework;
they know their business! They make promises, and they deliver! Their
babies love to be loved and that is just what you get. A baby that knows
nothing but love. Love from the day it leaves the nest and then through
out its days with Rita, Mark and Lydia. Babies that are well adjusted,
in top notch physical and mental condition, and eager to meet their new
flock members. Of course price is always a consideration when making
such an investment, but I am here to say that when you get a baby from
Rita and Mark that you are getting way more than you ever pay for, and
that is priceless!
Rita and Mark, thank you both for loving my little red chicken and preparing
her for a new and wonderful life with us. Rod, Josh and myself could
not be happier with Gracie. She is so much more than what we expected
and look forward to a lifetime of adventures with her.
Thanks for everything!
Donna
Louisiana
Read the whole story!
|
| Cheech Greenwing
Macaw |
Date: August 2003
Hi Rita and Mark,
Our family would like to thank you for raising such a beautiful bird. The
time spent waiting was well worth it. He has been everything you promised
and then some. I had been told by four other bird breeders that you have
done an excellent job of raising Cheech. His temperament has maintained
the same. He loves to cuddle. He does very well with our hectic household,
and gets along well with the kids and dogs. Week after week he learns more
and more. He is very good at begging for attention or food by saying 'Hello',
and barks back at the dogs when he gets excited. We just recently finished
his jungle scene mural in his play area, and its just awesome. It took
him a little bit to figure out that the trees weren't real and couldn't
step on them. I'll send you pictures as soon as I can.
Anyway, I thought I would fill you in on Cheech's progress. It's great!
He will definitely be a lifelong companion. I hope to one day get him a
partner, and when I do, I'll be sure to give you a call. Thanks for the
great service you've given us. Your hard work with these birds really shows.
The Coles family,
New Cumberland, PA
|
| Congo Greenwing
Macaw |
Date: Oct. 2003
Dear Rita and Mark,
I just wanted to thank you for doing such a wonderful job with Congo. The
very first night we had him he was cautious, but loving. In less then a
weeks time we had bonded. He will hear me in another room and fly off his
play gym to come find me. The first time he did this he flew to the loveseat
(close to his play gym) crawled down to the floor and came across the room
to the chair I was sitting in. He then proceeded to climb up the chair
sit on my chest and tuck his head under my chin so I could pet him. How
cute is that! Your babies are true to your word, they love to be loved.
He says Hello to me each morning and loves to cuddle. I just can't thank
you enough for my beautiful baby greenwing.
We've had Congo for almost a month now and I just love him more each
day. We've settled into a routine in which he is out of his cage most
of the day. He loves his play gym and all his toys. His favorite thing
(besides being loved) is to hang on his coiled rope I have in the kitchen
by the window. There are several toys hanging on it and he absolutely
loves to be on that thing. He's learned how to push himself off of one
of the kitchen chairs so he can swing. He's so funny to watch as he plays.
One of his other "fun" things to do is drop food from his play
gym and feed my dogs.
I hope to send you a picture soon. Thanks for all your help and all
your dedication to raising such wonderful companions.
Cindy
Olathe, Kansas
|
Willow Umbrella
Cockatoo
Cholla Greenwing
Macaw |
Date: Oct. 2003
Rita and Mark,
Richard and I started our mutual love for parrots with a 40+ year old one
eyed pirate of a yellow nape named Bridgette that I was reunited with after
25 years. (I knew her from working in a pet store) She enriched our lives
for a brief year, seeming healthy as a horse, then got very ill and passed
away very quickly. (it turns out she had extreme lead poisoning from years
of ignorance on the part of her many owners – what a hard way to
learn to get my birds a vet check even if they seem fine! ) At any rate,
she left a huge hole in our hearts, even though she was nasty to everyone
but me! We then ended up with 4 birds from various rescue situations, one
of whom came from a very irresponsible breeder and ended up costing us
a couple thousand in medical bills and many months of rehabilitation.
We dearly love our birds, but we both still had that “dream bird”,
mine being a cockatoo and my husband’s being a large macaw. We actually
almost got a Moluccan that we felt sorry for because it languished in a
local pet store for 2 years, but backed out because she was too much to
handle and I just didn’t feel right about it. We’d been through
too much already. Then, we almost got a baby Umbrella because we felt so
sorry for it because it was begging for food every time we saw it, because
it had been forced to wean at a specific age. The store told me, "now
don’t you go helping him feel sorry for himself. He’s just
being a big baby!” I am so thankful that I thought about it and realized
that I didn’t want my dream bird to be another “rescue”,
even though we’ve been lucky and all our rescues are wonderful, loving
birds.
I always look at the ads in the bird
mags and when I came across the ad for
Avian Adventures aviary, I told my husband
it was a local number. We looked at the
web site. We looked at each other and
said WOW! These folks really do it right!!!
They socialize their babies, they do
abundance feeding and no baby is weaned
before it is ready. The testimonials
from new owners were wonderful! They
just happened to have female cockatoo
available. We made an appointment, and
they asked us a lot of questions to see
if we were suitable to get one of their
babies – we were impressed! We
were able to visit our new baby Umbrella
female –“Willow”- at
least once a week, and even make payments
until she was ready to go. In the meantime,
a female Greenwing macaw that had been
spoken for became suddenly available.
We couldn’t believe it! When we
visited, we played with our babies down
in the “flight room” where
they were allowed to fledge before they
were weaned. They were so playful and
fun, totally unafraid and full of self-confidence.
They even let our 10 year old boy handle
them! We now have them both home and
they are fitting in beautifully, even
though our house can be pretty chaotic.
Willow, the Umbrella cockatoo has an amazing outgoing and fun personality
and goes to everyone in the family. Cholla the Greenwing is the sweetest
thing I have ever met and just melts in our arms. Both are eating well.
Rita and Mark gave us a very thorough list of all the many healthy foods
they were accustomed to. We are so happy to be having this perfect experience
getting our “dream birds”! They have rounded out our little
flock to perfection! Thank you Rita and Mark!!!
Sharon and Richard
American Canyon, CA
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| Marley Greenwing
Macaw |
Date: Oct. 2003
Thank you Rita & Mark
Marley is such a treat. He is everything that I expected and wanted
in a companion parrot. He is extremely gentle and interactive with me.
He seeks out attention.
For those of you out there that are trying to decide on a breeder, I
would definitely go to Avian Adventures Aviary for your companion parrot.
I personally have kept parrots as companions for 30 years. I use to tame
imported wild caught parrots for companions back in the 70's. Rita calls
those times the "Dark Ages" of raising parrots (minimal information
for proper care). I personally telephoned or website browsed about 40
breeders before I chose Rita and Mark. On my initial telephone call to
Rita I was given (I call it) an interview to make sure that I knew what
I was getting into as well as if I myself was worthy of one of their
birds. I am glad I passed.
Being local to the area where Avian Adventures is located I was able
to and encouraged to visit their establishment. I was told that my helping
with the babies (play time) would make for a better companion. I visited
the birds every chance I had, probably five times from the time they
were just starting to feather. My bird Marley was part of a three-sibling
clutch. His clutch mates are Congo and Cholla. I was also introduced
to Wingnut, Cheech and later Gracie, three other Greenwing babies as
well as Willow one of the most amazing Umbrella Cockatoos I have ever
seen. I also witnessed on television the discovery/hatching of Gracie.
All of the parrots that I mentioned have extremely nice temperaments
and were always very playful. I made a mistake on one of my visits. I
taught Marley how to bite. Rita worked with Marley to make sure that
he realized that biting was bad behavior. To her credit I have had no
problems with biting.
My neighbor and her three children (ages 4, 8, and 10) came over to my
house one night to see Marley for the first time. Typically this doesn't
set well with most birds (children seem to scare a lot of birds). To
Marleys credit he was very calm and relaxed around them. They each took
turns holding him with no problems at all. To Rita and Mark's credit
their own companion Greenwing (Chico) is the most physically beautiful
Greenwing I have ever seen.
Marley means a great deal to me as I had recently lost my companion parrot
of 10 years "Catfood" (Amazon Mexican Redhead) to a bacterial
infection. This was the first time in 30 years that my house had no parrot.
It was eerily quiet. I am very happy to have Marley as part of my family.
Sincerely
Vincent
Livermore, California
|
| Braveheart Greenwinged
Macaw |
|
Date: Mon, 3 Feb 2003
Rita and Mark,
Thank you so much for such a precious bird. He is a testament to your
abilities as breeders. Ian's Redfronted is a very sweet bird, but Braveheart
even surpasses him. Anyone that may want to contact us regarding your
abilities, please do not hesitate to let them, we will speak to all that
may want to communicate with us, and we will pass on our thoughts of
your extreme professionalism and honest caring for the birds you raise.
We will keep in touch, and send pictures.
Ben and Melissa
Knoxville, Tennessee
|
| Laddie |
Date: Sat, 21 Dec 2002
Rita & Mark
You did it again. Just like Jasmine AKA Jazzie, Laddie is healthy, happy,
lovable, cuddly, gorgeous and confident. He made his plane trip with
ease. He was out of the carrier and comfortable as soon as we left the
airport. He sat in my lap and cuddled then proceeded to get on the head
rest and watch the traffic. He was calm the entire ride home. As soon
as we were home he ate, played with toys and allowed everyone to cuddle
him.
The
credit for his calm, sweet, lovable and confident demeanor goes to both
of you. The care and love you give your babies before they go to their
permanent homes is nothing less than incredible.
As I type this Laddie is sitting on my chest with his head safely tucked
under my chin. Does not make typing easy but he is happy.
I do not even know how to thank you again. Words seem inadequate to
thank you both for the beginning you gave Laddie. It is that beginning
that will make Laddie a wonderful therapy bird. I look forward to the
adventure he and I have ahead of us. He is perfect just like Jazzie.
(Porscha might not agree with the "perfect" Jazzie statement,
lol)
I will keep you updated with the progress of Knight, Beauty and Jazzie
accepting Laddie into their flock.
Take care of yourselves. Have a very Merry Christmas. And again from
the bottom of my heart THANK YOU!
Love,
Rossanna, Knight, Beauty, Jazzie and Laddie
Topeka, Kansas
|
| Kiesha |
Date: Jan 13, 2003
I just wanted to send you a note about Avian Adventures.
I
purchased a beautiful well-weaned female umbrella cockatoo (Kiesha) from
Avian Adventures. Rita and Mark are extremely kind and knowledgeable
in socializing their birds and I learned a lot while visiting Kiesha
to bond with her.I am very pleased with Avian Adventures and the fact
that they give any advice that I need for as long as I need it.
Kiesha is extremely acrobatic and loves to hang upside down on her boing.
She makes all kinds of RRRRRR sounds and loves to be in our company.
Kiesha has adapted very well to our schedule and has a wonderful personality
so I always Iook forward to seeing her when I come home. Rita and Mark
do an exceptional job raising and socializing their birds.
Christina
Brisbane, CA
Date: Thursday, February 21, 2002 10:06 AM
Rita,
I would like to thank you for Jasmine. To tell you that she has stolen
my heart is an understatement. From the moment I got her off of the plane
I could tell from her relaxed demeanor inside of the carrier what an amazing
little lady she is. I took her out of the carrier and she rode in my lap
giving me kisses and cuddling all of the way home.
She immediately made herself at home with not only myself but with my other
two babies my Blue and Gold Macaws. It is so obvious what a beginning she
received with you. She is sweet, lovable, funny and most importantly confident
with herself. She would be none of those things if it were not for you
and the love and care you gave her. I speak from experience in previously
dealing with a breeder that had no morals or ethics what heartache it can
cause. As I began my search for a greenwinged I must have looked at over
100 websites, talked to about 50 different breeders until I came upon your
website. I knew immediately from your website and in speaking to you that
I had found the best breeder. To say thank you for allowing me the privilege
and honor of owning Jasmine seems inadequate. You promised me a healthy,
happy, confident bird and you delivered in abundance. I now promise you
that for all of my days Jamine will receive the same love and caring that
you began her life with. If I ever decide to expand my macaw family I will
look no further than you.
Rossanna Waggle
Topeka, Kansas
Date: Sunday, February 10, 2002 9:28 PM
Rita,
Again to say thank you for Jasmine is an understatement. She truly has
so much self confidence that she acts like she has been her always. I
also think that she would eat anything that didn't eat her first, lol.
Tonight I gave her warm sweet potatoes and she wanted more and proceeded
to toss all of her seed and pellets out of her dish. I think it was her
way of protesting that the sweet potatoes were gone. My husband laughed
and said that he has a feeling that she will be the sweetest brat (with
the emphasis on brat) that we could ever have and said she definitely knows
how to wrap me around her feathers. She is not only sweet and beautiful
but also very intelligent. If anyone ever asks you for a reference before
buying one of your babies you can give out my phone number. All breeders
should take a lesson from you. If ever there was a person that should write
a book about breeding and raising macaws it would be you. I will keep in
touch and let you know how Jasmine is doing. She has stolen all of our
hearts. Again, thank you.
Rossanna
Date: Wednesday, January 23, 2002 10:55 AM
I cannot say enough good things about the service I received from Rita
and Mark at Avian Adventures Aviary. After I decided I wanted to purchase
my "Bappy" from a Breeder and not a pet store, I went through
many websites unimpressed until I found avianadventuresaviary.com. Sure,
the prices were a little higher, but it is well worth the extra money spent.
You get so much more in the end, a healthy, happy, pre-trained, and well
adjusted "Bappy." After I talked with Rita on the phone I was
even more impressed and mailed out my deposit the next day. Rita and Mark
let me make payments on my baby Green-Wing Macaw until he was weaned. They
kept me up to date about my growing baby via e-mail with lots of pictures
and stories. Lonzo, my baby Green-Wing, was shipped to me on December 7,
2001, without any trouble and in perfect health. He is absolutely beautiful
and "Loves to be Loved." I have many other pets and small children,
all of which Lonzo gets along with beautifully. You can definitely tell
he was well socialized and loved by how quickly he adapted to a family
atmosphere.
Stacey/Canton, IL
Date: Saturday, February 23, 2002 8:13 PM
I have always wanted to be owned by a large bird. I started checking into
the Macaws, and found the Blue and Gold would be for me and my family.
I started researching, and came across Avian Adventures Aviary. Mark and
Rita are exceptional people, and have supported my family completely through
this. They are looking for exceptional homes to place the babies into,
and are extraordinarily supportive with any questions or concerns. They
also like to hear how the baby has adapted. I couldn't have imagined getting
a parrot any other way. The babies are very well socialized, and therefore
have a wonderful adjustment into their new environment.
Lori
And he said.." those who give, shall receive
in a greater abundance a far more valuable
reward, than what was given. For there is no
greater gift, than that which is given, truly from
the heart.!"
Date: Tuesday, January 1, 2002 6:18 PM
Hello Rita,
Merlot and I just wanted to drop you a note to let you know how we are
doing and to thank you once again, for such a well adjusted, loving GreenWing
baby. 
She is the lovable gal you promised and the extra time you take to spend
with your babies is evident in so many ways. She came home and settled
right in, with minimal stress, and has become such a wonderful part of
my life.
Merlot and I look forward to many happy years together and one day we hope
to retire in the Florida sunshine and spend our days gazing at the ocean
as the sun sets.
Many thanks for such a precious friend and for being there every step of
the way, for us and all of our questions...
Sincerely
Lisa & Merlot from Michigan
February 24, 2002
Dear Rita and Mark,
I am so grateful for the ways that you raised my little blue and gold macaw,
Beau. He began his tiny little life in your loving hands and now is a living
tribute of your love and endless dedication. I appreciate all that you
did for him like feeding him a variety of foods fit for a king, cuddling,
instruction and stimulating him with classical music and soothing voices.
It is nice to know he has spent time playing with you and interacting with
colorful toys to develop his curiosity and playfulness. You’ve showered
him with abundant love and infinite patience and it shows. I can see it
in his behavior and radiant plumage. Beau is affectionate and trusting
and playful. He is willing to try anything new and is not afraid of new
experiences. He welcomes them! He also makes me laugh as he discovers his
new macaw voice, sounding like a frog one minute and Povoratti the next.
I giggle when he starts to laugh and we crack up together.
My
heart melts into the beauty and intelligence
of him. He is an emotional being with real
feelings and needs . There is such an interplay
of trust growing between us as we bond
and get to know one another. I have had
lots of pets in my life, but nothing compares
to the quality and depth of communication
we share, it is beyond anything I have
ever known. As I look into his eyes I see
the wild in him, the intelligence and loving
trust he has for me. You smile and say
to me, "this is only the beginning,
it grows deeper". I have embarked
on such a wonderful journey with my winged
companion. As this relationship blossoms,
I am so thankful and impressed by your
magnificent work. Beau is a treasure and
a gift because of you and your devoted
labor of love.
Thank you for your unending support and guidance. I’ve discovered it did
not stop when I brought Beau home. You’ve supported and guided me by example
and patience on how I can be the best mom a parrot can have.
Warmly with thanks,
Sheree English
I Brought
my baby boy home with me about a year ago, "The Big Kahuna" I
had to wait for him to wean because Avian Adventures does not force wean
their birds they abundance wean. It was well worth the wait. He was provided
with such nurturing guidance and love he slid right into our routine with
out missing a beat. My husband races motorcycles and we take Kahuna with
us, even with all the commotion, people and engines, he just sits on his
stand basking in the sun on one foot. So well adjusted and socialized he
enjoys every moment. You can really see the difference in Rita and Marks
babies, and I owe all of our happiness to Avian Adventures!
attached is a good pic of Kahuna.
See Ya
Lisa Whitworth
Eggstra Eggzotics Aviaries
Breeders of Exotic Companion Parrots
Santa Cruz Mountains
www.eggstraeggzotics.com |
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