Who we are:  The Florida West Coast Avian Society Inc. is a 501(c)3 non-profit organization dedicated to education and conservation concerning exotic pet birds. In addition, we support research efforts which work towards finding cures for various avian diseases.  The rescue facet of FWCAS is relatively new.  It started on an emergency basis in 2004 with Hurricane Charley and scores of parrots that needed to be treated for bacterial infections before being re-homed.

 

What we do:  We stand ready to care for the avian survivors of hurricanes.  We temporarily house exotic birds found in the wild (including “lost” pets) and those who are abandoned or otherwise lose their human caretakers.  We feed them, socialize them, and when necessary, pay for and provide medical treatment.  We try to reunite lost pets with their owners and find good permanent homes for all of the birds.

 

Why we do it:  There is no local exotic bird rescue in the Sarasota area.   The Humane Society and other animal welfare organizations are aware of our rescue efforts and know that they can turn to us for help if the need arises.  From little parakeets to big cockatoos, we saw the need for a place to house birds in need until they could be placed in loving homes.

 

The road traveled:  Since we started our rescue efforts, we’ve rehabilitated and/or re-homed numerous Cockatiels, Quakers, Ringnecks, Conures, Lovebirds, Budgies, and a Cockatoo.  Until now, we’ve used volunteers’ homes and lanais to house the birds until they could be adopted out.  Since most of us already share our homes with avian companions, we realized the need for a climate-controlled room to keep potentially or obviously ill birds so as to avoid infection of our own pets.

 

The road ahead:  Our new rescue facility is located in a free-standing building on a member’s property in Sarasota.  The building has been renovated and reinforced to be able to withstand hurricanes (we hope!), and has been designed in such a way that it can be sanitized to prevent cross contamination in the event we house any sick birds.  We have received and are currently accepting donations in the form of cages, supplies, and money needed to care for the birds we take in.  This is NOT an animal hospital!  Rather, it is a 100% volunteer organization dedicated to helping exotic pet birds with a focus on parrots of all different species.  We work in conjunction with professional veterinarians and avian specialists when necessary to treat ill birds.

 

Thanks for your interest in our organization and thanks in advance for supporting the work we’re trying to do for the birds!

For more information on how you can help, please visit the FWACS WEBSITE. 

In November 2008, I visited the rescue of the Florida West Coast Avian Society and was given a tour of the rescue by the president, Lynda Lewis and vice president Gini Hyman. It was a real heartbreak to see so many birds who had lost their homes, but thankfully they have people like Lynda and Gini to take care of them and find them new homes!

INTERVIEW and TOUR VIDEO

     

  Lynda, Tara and Gini at the FWCAS Rescue Facility

             

Hey you!  Take me home!