There were some loud visitors at the Murrayville Library on Friday, Nov. 10.

The Greyhaven Exotic Bird Sanctuary staff and volunteers brought in some of their feathery friends to educate the public on exotic birds鈥� care and needs.

Jaime Dakin, shelter supervisor, brought in her husband鈥檚 cockatoo named Harley.

鈥淗arley tolerates me,鈥� she chuckled, explaining that cockatoos and other exotic birds will pick and choose whom they like.

Cockatoos are forever toddlers, said Lorraine Livesy, education coordinator.

鈥淭hey have the equivalent intelligence of a four-year-old鈥� they are forever toddlers,鈥� she said.

Harley is 15 years old, but cockatoos can live up to 80, Dakin said.

Livesy brought in her blue and gold macaw, Sherlock, who is currently 38 years old.

鈥淎 macaw is forever two years old, which I like, because they don鈥檛 outsmart me,鈥� she joked.

She said a common misconception of having the exotic birds as pets is that they are domesticated, but in fact they aren鈥檛.

鈥淎nd because they鈥檙e wild, birds will always be an unknown鈥� it鈥檚 not 鈥榠f鈥� you get bit, but 鈥榳hen鈥�,鈥� Livesy said, showing off the scars on her hands she鈥檚 received over the years from working at the sanctuary and owning exotic birds.

Birds are adoptable at the sanctuary, but potential adopters are required to attend a course to learn about their bird of interest and how to care for it. Volunteering to get experience being around the birds is highly recommended by Livesy. The sanctuary also does a home visit to see how the bird is doing with its new owner.

鈥淲e teach all about birds, the joy and anguish in owning them,鈥� she said.

Dakin said people don鈥檛 anticipate the unique vet expenses for this type of pet.

鈥淚 had emergency surgery on one of my cockatoos last year, and it was about $20,000,鈥� Dakin said.

She added that there are only three veterinarians in B.C. that specialize in exotic bird care.

In addition to costs, noise, mess, and damaged furniture, the long lifespan of these exotic birds is something Greyhaven volunteers have noticed people don鈥檛 plan for.

鈥淎 macaw can live up to 117 years. So when I take a bird in, I find someone who will take it after I鈥檓 gone. It鈥檚 so important, because there鈥檚 so many people who don鈥檛 do that鈥� some birds are euthanized because nobody wanted them,鈥� Livesy said.

During their presentation to a crowd of about 40 people, Livesy and Dakin shared their experiences owning exotic birds.

Kids and their parents had the opportunity to ask questions about the birds, and learn about the power behind their beaks.

鈥淭hey all bite differently鈥� macaws crush, cockatoos slash, and the congo African grey bird bites to the bone,鈥� Livesy explained.

Dakin said organizations like Greyhaven exist to help people learn about the unique care required for this type of pet, and to prepare for the limitations it will have on an owner for the rest of their life.

People interested in learning more can visit .

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