Mickaboo Companion Bird Rescue

So the great is this: Mickaboo rescues birds that would otherwise be sh** out of luck. It’s staffed entirely by volunteers, and funded entirely by donations. There are a lot of poor birds out there that outlive their humans, or otherwise get left behind in life traumas (divorce, becoming older, losing job, losing home, losing mind…) anyway, you get my point. Mickaboo will take any bird, and keeps them in the system until they find a forever home, or at least a decent home. They fund care of sick, disabled, and otherwise sad ass birds that would otherwise, well, you can use your imagination.
The less great: volunteers. They are sweet. Caring, willing. All that. And some of them are just crazy bird people. You know the crazy cat ladies? Well, there are for sure crazy bird ladies too, and they run the place. Very excellent intentions. The process to get in the system is prohibitive. First a form. Takes about an hour to fill out. Then a 3 hour class — no matter how much bird experience you gots, you gotsta’ take the class. Seriously. And it’s only offered twice a month in two different locations, but all the same weekend, so if you are busy? Try next month. Not so smart. On the other hand, the class is free, and open to anyone. Even if you are not offering a bird a home. And that’s great.
THEN you have a one hour telephone screening. With a volunteer. Meaning, maybe they get back to you. Maybe they take a while. Maybe you’re like, um, I think I could get to the moon and back on my own wings before this actually happens. Right. Now are you done? Nope.
Next is the home visit. We managed to have a combined home visit with a volunteer who actually had a bird we were interested in adopting so that reduced the usual steps by one. Whoa. She came from Alameda, we were in San Jose, so there was arranging to do. We did it. We passed whatever screening. Okay, done? Nope!!! You gotta’ then have, technically, TWO visits with the bird you want to adopt. TWO. So, like I said, we were allowed to double count the home visit and the first bird visit. We liked him. So then we went to see him in his foster home. In Alameda. And then we brought him home. I wasn’t sure it would ever happen.
And the website. Sigh. It’s not good. It does NOT get updated much. And the descriptions are varied in quality, but mostly not impressive. I am personally annoyed by first person descriptions of the animals. *Gag* And it’s not easy to navigate.
BUT in the end we have a very sweet bird. We are gonna foster another. And once you are in the system, you are in the system, so it’s worth hanging in there. Maybe I’ll find some time to volunteer and help out the site. Or the system. Or whatever. But I will not become a crazy bird lady. Until I’m older. Like next week maybe.

OK, so this isn’t really a review, though I do think Mickaboo has earned 5 stars. I haven’t adopted through Mickaboo, but they give me great tips whenever I ask for advice. Good useful info always.
Who do we like as Avian vets in or near San Jose? Besides Fern Van Sant please. (She’s a wonderful vet, but I won’t go back to her. Let’s leave it at that.)

This is a great bird rescue organization, and really deserves your support. Please consider donating money to help them do this important work. The traditional shelters set up for dogs and cats have no idea what to do with this intelligent, love-​lived creatures.

Mickaboo is one of the best animal rescue organizations I know of. They are a registered nonprofit, they are completely volunteer-​run so that about 99% of all donations and adoption fees can go directly to avian veterinary care, and all of their rescued birds live in carefully approved foster homes, rather than in a facility. They have a lot of very dedicated volunteers, and they work hard to spread the word about good bird care and about the current overpopulation problem with parrots in the US. They even help to reunite lost birds with their families.
When I learned about this organization in 2010 from an animal shelter employee, and decided I wanted to adopt from them (and possibly foster), I was put off at first by what seemed to be an intrusive approval process. However, it turned out to be a very informative free class, a fun phone conversation with a fellow bird-​lover, and then a helpful and fun home visit by a very nice man named Scott. Yes, the whole process did take a couple of months, partly because of my schedule and introverted nature, and partly because even dedicated volunteers have to take care of their families and jobs. Yes, I did get a little impatient at times, but I resisted buying any more birds from pet stores, since that supports the business of breeding more of them when there are already so many in need of good homes. (Anyone who views adopting from a rescue as «help[ing] them» probably doesn’t have the best interests of animals at heart.) Four years later, there are a lot more volunteers, so things usually move a little faster than they used to!
Now, I’m an active volunteer with them myself, and I foster budgies (aka parakeets) — I have a special soft spot for the ones who need extra TLC to recover from an illness or injury. It’s very rewarding, and I get to share stories and knowledge with lots of other bird-​loving volunteers, both online and at events such as adoption fairs and bird-​toy-​making parties.
Adopting a bird does require a person to pay an adoption fee and to sign a contract in addition to completing the approval process. The adoption fee is often only a small percentage of the amount Mickaboo has paid in vet bills for that bird, so no, they aren’t making any profits from this. The contract states that the bird will not be used for breeding, and that if the adopter ever needs to rehome the bird, that bird must come back to Mickaboo — this is because they want to ensure that the bird will have a good home for the rest of its life, which I think is the whole point of animal rescue, don’t you?
In short, while Mickaboo Companion Bird Rescue may not be perfect, it is probably about as close to perfect as it’s possible for an all-​volunteer non-​profit animal rescue organization to be!

So far I have to say, as far as the past reviews are concerned, it looks like a LOT of things have changed.
I was contacted nearly immediately when I started the process! I expected to be waiting sometime.
I live nearly 300 miles away, and they are working with me, despite the fact that they prefer their birds stay in California. They do NOT have to be so generous, but, I feel very blessed to have found them.
I am matched with a u2, and am hoping with all of my heart that we are chosen for his forever family.
Everyone has been so helpful so far, and I cannot wait to complete the adoption process.

Mickaboo does great work, even with limited resources. I donate to them regularly, in honor of my friend, who adopted a darling special-​needs bird from them, and in honor of my dusky-​headed conure, who is the world’s cutest bird. They really care about companion birds and providing loving homes to these intelligent, endearing animals. If I lived in the Bay Area, I’d volunteer!

These people are the bird Nazis. I had two sun conures and when one died of old age I though I’d help them by adopting another one. I have owned many parrots before. I have access to a good vet. I know what I am doing. They told me I was not qualifies to adopt a bird. I live in a very nice neighborhood in Palo Alto, had a large expensive cage with a box attached so they wouldn’t lay eggs on the floor, fed them the best food and kept the birds in sight on my patio in good weather during the day. The woman who came to interview me told me everything I did was wrong. She had spent half an hour casing my neighborhood! While I appreciate them making sure that the birds get a good home, I don’t appreciate their attitude. No wonder they are so swamped with birds. This woman really needed to get a life!

I just get so sad thinking of someone being sold a «perfect» bird (usually means ‘baby’). Indeed, going through an adoption helps everyone work through getting ready on multiple levels to bring a PET into your heart… your home. A sales pitch is a whole different ball o’ wax!
The diverse experience, the species coordinator expertise, the FREE CLASSES, the connection with community: so important,
I foster and adopt… help whenever I am able. This is not a contest, a debate. (Check out Andy’s Pet Shop, an all rescue pet store).
Mickaboo takes in all the birds that are no longer «perfect’, and nurture them towards a better life… once they are «too much». like the plucked CAG with a broken wing & aspergillus dumped at ACC in the night. HOW MANY TIMES DO WE HEAR THAT STORY?
I love that ONCE A MICKABOO COMPANION BIRD RESCUE, ALWAYS A MICKABOO BIRD!

I’ve been volunteering for Mickaboo for about 8 years and have two adopted birds, and I can’t recommend them highly enough.
Yes, they DO have problems with response times — lets get that out of the way up front. I know this is frustrating for people but some of the reviews below seem to have NO concept for what it’s like to try to respond «quickly» in an animal rescue situation, hold down a day job and have a family. Some people want to adopt a bird within the week — this just isn’t possible if you want to make sure you’re not setting the bird AND their new family up for failure.
Mickaboo people put a whole lot of effort not just into ensuring that birds get adopted, but that they AND their new families are a good match for each other. This takes a phone screen and a home visit — yep, annoying and intrusive, I get it! But how do you make sure a cranky 20 year old amazon who was abused by a man with a beard and hates pomeranians is going to have the best start possible with their new family? You let them know this on the phone. You visit the house and make sure there’s no pomeranians hanging around.
Mickaboo makes a solid commitment to every bird they intake that the bird will be rehomed, into the right home, and that the new family will have every opportunity available to them to start the relationship off right. Many of the birds come to them sick, or abused, or neurotic. The ones that come healthy come deeply emotionally wounded by being given up by their former homes. Mickaboo works with the birds to rehabilitate them — they dont’ just pass them off to someone new with little effort.
They do this all entirely on donations, with volunteer staff who come and go as their lives get busy. Who sometimes have time to call you back and sometimes are getting yelled at by their boss for being late to work that day and just can’t swing it.
Despite all these challenges and dedications to their own high standards, they’ve rescued and re-​homed 2,500 birds and counting.
I don’t want to ask «What more could you want?» because there’s room for improvement… but really, be fair — what more can you ask for?

This place is a joke, as in a bad joke that you suffer through. I have had three birds, and wanted to adopt a cockatiel I have a fantastic set up at the house — a huge parrot cage, plenty of light and room to fly, and time to give the bird. I have a great bird vet. So I thought I’d contact Mickaboo to adopt a needy bird. What a joke. First, I had to fill out a written application. Then had to attend a 30 minute bird class by conference call. Then I had to agree to be interviewed. Then I had to agree to have them inspect my house! That’s worse than going to the pet shelter! And their response rate is horrible. They keep giving excuses about none of the people being paid, well do you care about your birds or do you just care about yourselves?! If you cared about the birds, you’d make it easier for people to adopt them. You have become some bureaucratic, stuffy, self-​important organization that has neglected to help what it is tasked to help — the birds. I think the place is a sham.

Well, I’ve heard that what this place does is amazing.
However, getting anything out of this organization has been clearly impossible for me. I have tried to contact Mickaboo on several occasions and at various times over the last two years utilizing the email address provided on the site. I understand that this is volunteer-​run, but I find the lack of efficiency both inexcusable and very telling of American work ethic.
Not once have I even received a response. I love what this rescue is doing… in theory, but personally the results have not been visible to me, whatsoever.
So, two years later, I am the proud owner of two wonderful parrots: one a rescue off of Craigslist, and another bought from a breeder.

Thank you, Mickaboo! We are so sad to have to say goodbye to Kimo, our dear Senegal, but are thrilled that you found him a new home where our little ones won’t make him so nervous. Jaime and her organization of volunteers was so helpful, compassionate and professional. They took their time, helped our family with some of his behaviors and are so amazing to work with. We are grateful for your organization and the wonderful compassion and care you show to these beautiful birds.
Adopt from Mickaboo! Yes, there are steps to take with the adoption process, but it’s worth it and the birds need you!

This organization obviously cares about birds and does a good job educating the public. That’s the positive stuff. If you want to adopt a bird, good luck unless you are going to adopt a pigeon/​dove.
I completed an application in early March. I said I was interested in a parrot and also possibly doves/​pigeons. The dove pigeon coordinator got back to me right away, gave me a ton of information and was very accessible. Not so with the parrot people.
Though I completed my application in March, it was not until early MAY that someone from Mickaboo called me to do a phone interview. That was pretty odd in and of itself. I got a message on my cell phone saying that this was the SECOND time she was trying to reach me as she had ALREADY sent me an EMAIL. She then said the best way to reach her was via phone. So I called back right away, alerted her that she probably mis-​typed my email because I never received any message and let her know times I was available. I then got another voicemail in which she claimed this was the THIRD time she was trying to reach me. Apparently in her house, she does not get cell reception (but had given me her cell number) so she never heard my message! Eventually we were able to set something up and the phone interview was fine. She told me she would forward my application to the next phase (a home visit).
I should add that during this time Mickaboo decided not to accept any birds because they claimed they did not have enough foster homes and could not adopt out birds quickly enough!
Later that month (May), I received a call from someone who was available to do my home visit. That person, too, had some difficulties with email but at least the process was done. She said she would forward my application on to the board to be approved to be either a foster or adoptive home. That was in late May. I haven’t heard anything since.
Meanwhile, I do get solicitations from Mickaboo asking me for money!
I get the whole volunteer thing. I really do. I volunteer a lot and work for an organization that recruits and trains volunteers. But I think it’s ridiculous for Mickaboo to claim their situation is so hard when they insist on taking 6 months to approve someone to be a fost/​adopt home. I think the birds deserve better.

When we found a lovebird last month, I was fortunate enough to stumble across Mickaboo’s website. The next day I attended an adoption fair they were involved in, and their friendly and knowledgeable volunteers were happy to offer advice to a novice bird owner about what counted as normal behavior and signs to look for about whether she was or wasn’t settling in OK.
I look forward to attending one of their upcoming bird care classes, which they offer as a community service and a prerequisite to adopting through them. The volunteers are very committed to the well-​being of their feathered friends and I wish the organization the best of luck going forward!

I have owned many parrots before. I have access to the best vet in california. I know what I am doing. They made it impossible for me to adopt a bird. While I appreciate them making sure that the birds get a very good home, I don’t appreciate them making me feel like I shouldn’t have one of their birds. If they give everyone who comes in such a hard time, I understand why they are so swamped with birds. Mickaboo — adopt your birds out! Not to mention the price for an older bird is that of a young bird… which is ridiculous! People who volunteer at mickaboo go into pet stores and write negative reviews on Unilocal.Get over yourself! If I want a bird, trust me, I will go somewhere and get one.

We just adopted our second cockatiel from this amazing organization. I’ve never really been an animal person growing up, but these little birds just nuzzle their way into your heart. I’ve been spreading the word on adopting birds, it’s surprising how many people aren’t aware that you can adopt! I’m so grateful an organization like mickaboo is around to educate people on bird care and handling. The volunteers I’ve dealt with have been super informative and friendly, I really can’t say enough about this organization. It’s really an amazing network of people.

Truly an amazing non-​profit and all-​volunteer organization that does a ton of good for our fine feathered friends. I was originally surprised to hear that they do not have a central facility or location dedicated to their purpose. Each bird they take in actually goes to the temporary foster home of a volunteer while awaiting a good new permanent home. Sounds hectic, but based on a network of bay area bird lovers, this system works surprisingly well.
Mickaboo is a bird rescue that provides temporary shelter for birds in need, rehabilitation as needed, and works to find them new loving homes. Yes, they do rehab… no, not that kind of rehab, but rather the physical therapy kind. We are not talking about a pudgy macaw with a martini problem.
The wild parrots of Telegraph Hill are a sheer joy to watch and often make San Francisco seem even more magical, but the reality is that underneath all that glamour, they are still wild birds and a lot can happen to members of the flock. Young birds who are just starting to fly often crash into windows and other structures, breaking a wing, leg, or even worse… their spine. Elderly birds, like humans, also experience similar problems. There is always the threat of a hawk or other predator causing injury and as if all that wasn’t bad enough, there is even a neurological disease that is now affecting the flock. It’s not easy being a wild bird.
Whenever an injured or sick wild parrot is discovered or brought into SF Animal Control, they immediately contact Mickaboo. They are the go-​to source for wild parrot rescue in Northern California. Also, with the economy and housing industry being what it is today, there are more and more pet birds in need of a good home. Heartbreaking, but as people lose their jobs or move away, they sometimes can no longer keep their feathered companions. Parrots can be quite loud at times (even the small ones) and many of them cannot be apartment birds.
Oftentimes, bird newbies get a pet parrot and realize that it’s not the cuddly cartoon pet that they thought it would be. As pets, parrots (especially larger ones) have a lot of needs and require a ton of attention. They are not like guinea pigs. I’ve even heard of parrots being referred to as a miniature feathered dragon with a beak. Not every bird purchase (or adoption) is a good fit and sometimes people realize this just a little too late. It’s a sad situation, but fortunately, Mickaboo is there to help.
A bird rescue made up entirely of bird loving volunteers that house, rehab, and find good, safe, permanent homes for birds in need? How could I not love them? Mickaboo has done so much good for wild birds and pet birds… they really give a flock. Five stars!!!
Forgot to add… Mickaboo needs your help and is looking for bird loving volunteers! Here’s the link:

what an incredible organization! this nonprofit haven gives rescued birds a safe environment to recuperate from injury or abandonment. volunteers provide their precious time to care and love these sweet birds as well as sussing out a permanent solution for birds that need homes.
mickaboo provides free bird classes and for a small fee an advanced bird behavior training class for bird owners. check out the website, it has some really interesting information. i love pigeons!

First off I’m a Mickaboo volunteer and foster parent so I have a little bit of bias. Prior to adopting Boomer almost three years ago I had heard of Mickaboo via Wildwood Vet but was happy with two birds and had no desire for any more. After I lost Buster I decided on a second bird to keep Taz company and that is where it all started.
What is great about Mickaboo is they are very, very particular where they place the birds. In order to adopt you fill out an application, take a class, do a phone interview and then have a home visit. After this then you get to meet your possible future bird who is looking for his forever home. If f for any reason you determine you can’t keep the bird then you are obligated to return it to Mickaboo. This is an all volunteer organization with no facilities and if you are considering a companion bird this is the way to go.

Mickaboo (formerly Mickaboo Cockatiel Rescue) is an organization dedicated to rescuing mostly parrot-​type pet birds (everything from parakeets to finches to macaws) and offering really informative bird care classes to the general public. They may be based in San Jose, but they have volunteers fostering birds at their homes throughout the Bay Area, and if you’re considering getting a pet bird, I’d strongly recommend them.
Several years ago when I was looking for a bird to buy, I stumbled across them online and decided to check out one of their classes and find out more about adopting. They cannot afford a storefront (they spend thousands of dollars a month paying medical bills for sick birds) but hold classes at pet stores and other locations around the Bay Area. I was so impressed by them that I ended up fostering birds for them for a couple years in Oakland. My wonderful birds, Henry, a blue-​fronted amazon, and Rudy, a cockatiel, were both adopted from them.
Their adoption process is stringent: attending a bird care class is mandatory and a home visit also helps them make sure they are matching the right bird with the right family. They want to place these little guys for life.
When we encountered some behavioral issues (mainly in the form of screeching) with Henry after my daughter was born, Mickaboo was super supportive and helped me troubleshoot the problem, restoring peace and happiness to both bird and family. Birds can be work to care for, and Mickaboo’s educational classes and volunteer/​adopter support system (they have a lively online community) is awesome, making sure you can get all your questions answered even years after you adopt.
In a world where many pet birds are treated as throw-​away animals, it’s nice to have Mickaboo around.