The AWC was formed in the fall of 2000 to create a voice in the animal protection community for captive birds. The AWC and its Participants are responsible for many significant achievements on behalf of parrots and other captive birds. The efforts of our participants—working directly through AWC, on behalf of their own organizations or through their personal endeavors—are impacting the lives of tens of thousands of birds in captivity as well as in the wild.
The AWC works towards its goals by facilitating cooperation among AWC participants, the humane community and professionals in related fields, by providing educational resources for animal advocates, the media, and the general public, and through special AWC sponsored programs.
The AWC has made great progress toward its goals and continues to fulfill its mission through the following campaigns and programs:
Programs & Campaigns
In coordination with the Animal Protection Institute, the AWC has established National Bird Day (January 5th) as a day of action for captive birds www.nationalbirdday.org
The establishment of the first and only dedicated Avian Shelter Outreach Program to assist shelter and animal control organizations in serving the needs of captive birds.
Production of AWC downloadable brochures, posters, and educational materials and published articles on a variety of avian topics are available at www.avianwelfare.org.
The AWC’s Pet Store Watch aids in pet shop monitoring and investigations through our online evaluation forms at www.petstorewatch.org. The data received is responded to and shared with other animal advocacy organizations and pet industry executives. In extreme cases, information reported in these evaluations may be forwarded to local humane authorities for follow-up and appropriate action.
Ongoing Activities
Conducting AWC Special Events: Caring for Exotic Birds in the Shelter, a hands-on workshop designed to help animal care workers at shelter and animal control organizations gain the knowledge and skills to facilitate the rescue, care and placement of exotic birds, and The Survival of Parrots: From Conservation To Animal Control, a public presentation that focuses on the many complex and challenging aspects of parrot welfare.
Exposure and speaking engagements at key conferences, including Taking Action for Animals, Empty Cages, and HSUS EXPO as well as at regional meetings and workshops.
Letter-writing campaigns, action alerts, and media exposure in response to issues ranging from irresponsible portrayals of birds in the media to the trade in wild-caught birds within the U.S. and abroad, to abuse and neglect cases, and to support responsible legislation for the protection of birds in captivity and in their natural habitat.
Facilitating the rescue and placement of displaced and abused birds through the AWC-Shelters list-serve
The AWC serves as an educational resource for the humane community, lawmakers, government and regulatory agencies, and the general public.
The AWC and its Participants respond to thousands of inquiries from the U.S. Canada and abroad regarding bird adoption & placement, cruelty and neglect, care and behavior, legislative and other informational requests throughout the year.
The AWC also serves as a resource to lawmakers, government and regulatory agencies on avian welfare concerns.
Achievements
NEW – Publication of Lucky: Based on a True Story, an educational children’s books that gently awakens children to the plight of captive birds and birds captured in the wild. www.LuckyTheLorikeet.com the book’s dedicated website includes lesson plans, a narrated documentary video clip of the real Lucky, and is designed to engage children and educators in a variety of interactive, creative activities.
Collaboration with other national organizations and coalitions including the World Society for the Protection of Animals (WSPA), the Captive Wild Animal Protection Coalition (CWAPC), the Animal Protection Institute (API), the American Society for the Prevention of Cruelty to Animals (ASPCA), and others.
Played a key role in the passage of state bill AB202 to restrict the sale of unweaned birds in California
Taking a leading role in the development of proposed standards of care for captive birds under the Animal Welfare Act. (USDA regulations now pending)
Developed the Captive Wildlife Platform and Position Paper for The Animals Platform--a comprehensive program of animal issues to advance the moral and legal status of animals in the arena of public policy. The Animals Platform, a project of Animals and Society http://www.animalsandsociety.org (insert link on highlighted words) is a blueprint that can be used at the local, state, and national level to promote new and stricter animal protection legislation and policy.
About Our Participants
As a working alliance, our Participants are dedicated, active professionals engaged in all aspects of avian welfare and animal protection, including:
Avian education, behavior and health
Bird rescue, adoption and sanctuary
Animal advocacy and law
Field conservation
Sanctuary management
Veterinary and avian medicine
Research biology
Shelter and public outreach
In addition, AWC Participants contribute articles to a variety of publications and websites, educate the humane community, lawmakers, and the general public about the plight of parrots and other captive birds, produce videos on the exotic pet trade and parrots in the wild, speak at humane conferences, conduct avian care workshops, advocate to raise the standards of care for captive birds, work to increase legal protection for captive birds and support conservation initiatives aimed at preserving birds in their natural habitats. To learn more about our Participants,click here.
Collaborating for Success!
The AWC and its Participants collaborate with animal advocacy organizations, avian rescue and conservation groups, animal control and shelter organizations, members of the veterinary community and wildlife groups, government, and local agencies to bring about social, legislative, and public policy changes that will improve the lives of captive birds and protect birds in the wild.
Our collective efforts on a variety of exotic bird campaigns and projects with organizations and individuals in the U.S. and aboard--regardless of whether or not they formally participate in the AWC—are focused on one purpose: to help empower them to help birds!
Public education that highlights the difficulties associates with keeping exotic birds as “pets” –and a clear message that, birds are more beautiful wild—has been sorely lacking: the AWC fills this need.
