"Home isn’t where you’re from, it’s where you find light when all grows dark." ~ Pierce Brown
Mulberry Acres Rescue is a parrot sanctuary in Michigan devoted to rescuing, rehabilitating, and re-homing companion birds in need. Over the past year, Mulberry Acres has become a vital refuge for surrendered, neglected, and disabled birds all across the Midwest. This summer, we reached full capacity, making it essential to expand our space if we want to continue being a beacon of light for birds in need.
With your support, we plan to construct a new, state-of-the-art rescue center on our farm. The new facility will include a climate-controlled indoor space to keep our parrots safe and comfortable year-round, as well as an education room where we can offer classes to prospective bird owners. We also plan to build an expansive outdoor aviary that will allow the birds to stretch their wings, fly, and rediscover their natural instincts—a chance to truly be birds again. Every dollar raised will bring us closer to creating an environment where these parrots can thrive, heal, and prepare for the possibility of a forever home.
Here are just a few members of our current flock, who will benefit from your donation directly:
Quincy - Blue and Gold Macaw
- Quincy needs an outdoor aviary so he can finally feel what it's like to fly. His pent up energy causes screaming and behavior issues, but if he could fly, we believe his quality of life would greatly improve. He knows some sign language and can say "Hi, hello, wow, oh no!" He loves attention but his main passion is building nests for a potential mate. We hope one day to introduce Quincy to another macaw so they can become a bonded pair. No breeding, just companionship.
Sammy - Green Cheek Conure
- Sammy wasn't meant to be a pet, sitting in a cage all day. He wants to be free to fly and forage like a wild bird should. While he puts up with us humans at the sanctuary and appreciates the attention at times (and the food), we know he would much prefer access to a large aviary to burn off some steam (and perhaps grow back his chest feathers).
Petri ~ Senegal Parrot
- Petri is a sweetheart of a bird who is looking for her forever home. She was very well trained by her previous owner, will recall on demand, and says her name, "Petri!" While she puts up with the other birds at the sanctuary, we think her perfect life would be as a single bird in a quiet human home, where she can ride on a shoulder and get her head scratched on demand. She loves to make sweet sounds in your ear and give kisses. Our rescue center will provide a space where potential adopters can interact with her safely and attend our avian education classes before making the huge commitment to adopt.
Benjamin Button ~ African Gray
- No one is certain why Benji began plucking her feathers to the point of bleeding, but she has had gaping wounds under her wings for years. Her inability to leave the wounds alone keeps them open and infected, prolonging her healing process and putting her life at risk. Along with our avian vet, we are working tirelessly to beat the infection so we can get Benji back to her old self. She is an affectionate, feisty, and clever girl, who deserves a life free from fear and pain. Our rescue center will be a place of healing for Benji (and countless other birds), providing 24/7 care and comfort while she heals. ✨
Sergio ~ Yellow Naped Amazon
- For 41 years, Sergio has been in a cage, never being hand-tamed. Judging by the band on his leg, Sergio was brought into the United States long before there were regulations set in place for importing exotic birds. Parrots were not commonly bred in captivity back then, which means it is almost certain that Sergio was stolen from the wild as a baby. Our dream is to find an avian organization to adopt him, either here in the U.S. or in Central America, which is his native environment. We would love to see him live out the rest of his days in an expansive outdoor aviary, helping to educate people on the endangered nature of his species. Our rescue center will be Sergio's home base until we secure a forever home for him, returning what was stolen so long ago: his freedom.
We are starting our goal at $10,000 for the first phase of construction. The full, final cost of construction will be closer to 50k.
Exotic birds have specialized environmental needs (such as properly filtered air, consistent climate control, and enclosures comprised of specific, non-toxic metals) which elevate the expense of their care. The high cost is one of the main reasons parrots are so often surrendered, and why we must rely on donations from animal lovers like you. We cannot do it alone.
The quality of construction will depend on the amount of donations received. We will try to do as much of the labor ourselves to reduce costs, but we don't want to cut too many corners for our flock. They deserve the very best!
We aim to complete much of the indoor space by Fall 2025, ensuring no more birds are turned away. (We have already turned away over twenty birds just in the last week!)
Cost breakdown:
1. Climate-Controlled Indoor Space: ~ $30,000
- Legal permits, inspections, and any administrative costs required for the new facilities.
- Insulation, heating, and cooling systems to keep our parrots safe and comfortable year-round, including wiring and safety measures.
- Building materials, enclosures, secure fencing, and safe flooring to ensure durability and safety in all weather conditions.
- Countertops, sink, dishwasher, cook-top, and refrigerator for feeding prep area and medication storage.
- Perches, ropes, and toys that will simulate a natural, outdoor environment.
Our inspiration for the indoor space:
2. Outdoor Aviary: ~ $15,000
- A secure outdoor enclosure where the birds can safely fly, explore, and engage in natural behaviors, with perches, ropes, trees, and foraging areas for enrichment.
Using bird netting, the outdoor aviary would look something like this:
Here is a mock-up for the rescue center layout:
Please join us on this journey to give these incredible birds the sanctuary they deserve!
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