Seventeen species of macaws are found in Central and South America and are considered rainforest birds. Not far away, another expansive aviary was home to several scarlet macaws, the peacocks of the parrot family: large eye-catching birds with vibrant multicolored plumage. PEACOCKS OF THE PARROT FAMILY Sun conure at Project Perry Sanctuary The birds contentedly lolled about both the open area and enclosed shelter, and from the smile on Smith’s face it was clear he enjoyed the company of the African grays. Some of the gregarious birds moved closer as we entered, and as we walked the length of the aviary at least three flew to my shoulders or hopped from perches to my baseball-cap-covered head. I visited Project Perry in June during an open house, and as I entered the African gray aviary accompanied by genial staff and sanctuary director Matt Smith, the 40 or so birds greeted us with loud calls and several “hellos.” Smith, who had worked at a similar sanctuary in New Hampshire, moved to Louisa to be near family and has developed a 15-acre paradise for his charges. Recorded tropical birdcalls and eerie jungle howls wafted nonstop throughout the house, and it was clear that bird and human had successfully bonded. In one corner there was a large cage with a thick tree branch attached, where a perched African gray watched me intently. On my first visit to his home, I found every nook and cranny of the downstairs filled with greenery: twisting vines, spidery ferns and all sorts of exotic plants. A fellow birder had adopted one that had been kept by a distant relative for several years, and although he was not particularly keen about cage birds, it wasn’t long until there was a strong bond between the gray and the new caretaker. My introduction to African grays was a real eye-opener. Not as colorful as other cage birds, grays have taupe to slate gray plumage, but the tips of their tails are reddish. Some owners say that the African grays have the intelligence level of a 5-year-old and the temperament of a 2-year-old. SMART AS A 5-YEAR-OLD, FEISTY AS A 2-YEAR-OLDĪfrican grays are often considered the “Einsteins” of the parrot family because of their unusual ability to mimic human speech and communicate with their caretakers. You’ll find a wide range of exotic birds at Project Perry: cockatiels, finches, brilliant sun conures, splashy scarlet macaws and many African gray parrots. For a variety of reasons, owners do not maintain a safe and healthy milieu, so removal is the optimal outcome. Unfortunately, a number of sanctuary residents are rescued from neglectful and abusive living conditions. Some parrot species may have long lifetimes, often many decades, and owners simply tire of the year-after-year upkeep and want to be relieved of responsibility. Some birds live there as beneficiaries of their owners’ estate plans. Some caretakers are unable to care for their birds because of advanced age, poor health or the cost of health care for their birds. Sanctuary residents reach their new home for a variety of reasons. An unmarked gravel road leads to several large and sumptuous aviaries that are homes to exotic “cage birds.” The birds are residents of the Central Virginia Parrot Sanctuary (aka Project Perry), one of six sanctuaries in North America that are accredited by the Global Federation of Animal Sanctuaries, an achievement that assures a high standard of health and well-being. Tucked into the woods a few miles north of the town of Louisa, you’ll find a very unlikely avian menagerie. Scarlet Macaw at Project Perry Sanctuary | Photographs by Jerry Uhlman
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