Macaw Landing Foundation

Seriously, this place is amazing. It’s been quite a few years since I’ve been here, but I remember it being a great experience!

Macaw Landing is pretty awesome, like the other review I felt cheated I’d never heard of this before. It was a very enriching experience and opened my eyes to issues about animals and the environment as well as showed us some awesome birds. The tour guide, Jack, was friendly knowledgeable and passionate about these birds. I’m basically writing this because I think more people should know about this gem.
Have fun!

Although we visited the most popular tourist attractions on our recent trip to Portland, Macaw Landing will be the most memorable. Jack, the guide, is very informative about Macaws, their life in the wild, and the importance of the rainforests they come from. I would recommend this highly to anyone visiting the Portland area.

After visiting the Macaw Landing Foundation I felt cheated that I hadn’t been to or heard of this place before during my 6 years of living in Portland. When it comes to interacting with animals in the city, the Macaw Landing Foundation comes out head and shoulders above the Oregon Zoo! It’s a definite must-​see!
For security reasons, access to the sanctuary requires a phone call and reservation after which they’ll give you directions. The Foundation is about 10 miles from downtown off of I-​5 close to the Columbia River and when you finally reach the place you have to honk to get through the gate. As we came through the gate the screams of Macaws were audible and our guide, expert, and host Jack Devine stood waiting for us in a parrot-​covered shirt. When the gate closed and locked behind us and the parrot screams continued in the background everything felt a little Jurassic-​Park-​esque but we quickly warmed up to the place and realized that with Jack Devine, we were in good and knowledgable hands.
A visit to the foundation begins with a VHS video summarizing the life of Macaws, their native habitat in Central and South America, and their mounting endangerment due to destruction of habitat and the pet trade. 8 million parrots a year are taken from their habitat to supply the international pet trade and 90% die before making it to good homes. Jack Devine spoke a little after the VHS about his passion and commitment to Macaws, particularly to his personal pet, Scarlet and he claimed that «My friends tell me I’m actually part Macaw!»
Following our indoor orientation, Jack passed out earplugs and took us out to the main attraction, the «flight.» The largest parrot cage of its kind in the world is home to 90 Macaws all screaming at amazing decibles, staring, and flapping around overhead. Macaws are noisy, naughty, and incredibly intelligent. Jack invites you to stand amid the excitement and if you’re on the 4 pm tour, you’ll have the opportunity to feed the birds (do be careful; one of the girls on our tour got a brazil nut shell in her eye when a parrot dropped it down on her).
Don’t miss the rest of the riverfront grounds that include ducks, horses, goats, and a SACRED DONKEY named Speckles that cuddled up with us. After meeting Speckles and experiencing the flight, I swore to return and had no qualms stuffing my $ 5 donation into the pot. Head up to this secret spot in Northeast Portland with your friends or family – it really is something else.
call to reserve your tour at
, 2 pm, or 4 pm