The Bird Hospital – Avian Veterinary Services

I’ve been coming here for years, but I will say this past year I have seen them a bit too much! My very rambunctious parakeet escaped last spring and ended up flying back to me five hours later. He was in decent shape, but better to be safe than sorry. A few months later he was grazed by my dog’s mouth and Dr. B + staff tended to the blood feathers. Another dog-​mouth «grazing» — more like bite — incident led to a very badly broken foot and a very unhappy bird. A month and a half of wearing a cast later, here we are, very happy and healthy! He can grip again and everything is looking like it healed up great! So thankful for them :)

If zero stars were an option, I would choose it. I just returned from my first visit to this doctor. I had planned to have my parakeet’s wings trimmed, but the doctor and his assistant were totally unable to connect with my eight year old, very friendly bird. The doctor insisted on putting his entire hand out for Sprite to climb onto. Sprite likes to climb on a finger (like a branch), but the doctor was totally arrogant and disinterested in taking any advice from the owner. After at least 15 attempts (each time Sprite would fly away fearful), the doctor then stated that he wouldn’t trim his wings anyway. He said the prior wing trim was atrocious (restated 3 times). I said I’d be sure to share that with his avian doctor who has taken care of him for 8 years and has no problem getting him to stay. In closing, I strongly encourage you NOT to entrust your bird to this man. He is not only incompetent, but arrogant as well! Please feel free to contact me for further details. When I saw the five stars I was hopeful. But keep in mind there were only 3 reviews. The fourth is ultimately a zero!
I JUST CONTACTED THE NC VETERINARY MEDICAL BOARD AND FOUND OUT THAT THIS DOCTOR HAS HAD 5 COMPLAINTS, 2 DISMISSALS, 1 WITHDRAWN, 1 CONSENT ORDER AND 1 LETTER OF REPRIMAND!!!
AND TO TOP IT OFF, HE SHOUTED OUT THE NAME OF ANOTHER DOCTOR WITH SIMILAR «CREDENTIALS» and said, «YOU’LL BE BACK!»
Fortunately, through the Board, I was able to find a doctor with absolutely no complaints in 15 years! Interesting!!!

Dr. Greg Burkett is our bird whisperer.
We’ve known Dr. B. for nine years now… when his establishment was known solely as The Birdie Boutique. In those days, he sold birds, cages, toys, bird food, and provided boarding and veterinary services. I think I heard say that at the time, he was one of only three certified avian vets in the state of North Carolina.
We’ve been regular customers of his ever since… as there has always been a special warmth there. You can tell he loves his birds! We’ve entrusted the care of Mango, our Senegal parrot, only to him — as well as the health and well being of the five budgies we’ve had over the years.
From our first experience there, when his business was full of birds for sale (watched over by Joy, a ‘mother hen’ of a store manager) they wouldn’t sell a companion bird to anyone that didn’t meet their exacting standards. If they had the slightest inkling that a person or household could not or would not provide a healthy environment for all the long years that a bird can live, they would not sell. Period. I really respected that!
Eventually, Dr. Burkett decided to get out of the business of selling birds. From our various conversations, I believe he was afraid that too many people were breeding birds, and that could ultimately lead to more birds than could be cared for in loving homes. I’m sure it was a very difficult decision for him business-​wise, but he stopped selling birds.
While he continues to sell cages, food and supplies, and boards birds for vacationing owners, Dr. B. has of late really focused on his first love, his veterinary practice. In fact, he’s remodeled the business completely, giving his exam rooms the space and amenities they deserve.
We visited Dr. B. again today — and he was there with empathy and compassion, to help us transition our little Blue into eternal rest. That little budgie was almost 12 years old, and by far the sweetest and most personable of the four budgies that, along with Mango, make up our flock. She’d been suffering the ravages of age, which in budgies, often manifests itself in gout or arthritic symptoms. We’d tried the medicines and the other courses recommended by Dr. B., but saw her decline quickly in the last few days. It was a painful decision — but the right one, I’m sure.
I would not hesitate to recommend Dr. Burkett to anyone that was looking for the best in avian care — from someone that really cares about birds!