FINAL UPDATE: 9:00 pm

We did it!  Collectively, including matching gifts, we have raised just over $11,500!  THANK YOU so much for your support, your generosity, and your heart.  Our birds appreciate all of you.

UPDATE: 5:25 pm

We have raised about $6,600 toward our $10,000 fundraising goal. Thanks to ALL who have gotten us this far!

Join the crowd and help our many many MANY birds with their medical care - our vet bills are $30K/month for our flock of 600+ birds.  Your gift today will be matched at 50% by Mickaboo's Challenge Grant - now through 9 pm PT.

Our birds and our volunteers appreciate your generosity!

UPDATE: 9:30 am

Thanks to the many wonderful people who gave, we have raised about $4,800 toward our $10,000 fundraising goal - enough to pay for about a week's veterinary bills.  The matching continues with Mickaboo's Challenge Grant - now through 9 pm PT!  Give here - our birds will appreciate your help with their recovery!

UPDATE: 7:47 am

GlobalGiving funds have run out, but matching continues in Mickaboo's own Challenge Grant! Generous Mickaboo supporters have funded the Challenge Grant to match your donations between now and 9 pm PT today. 

Watch this space for news on our fundraising progress!

GlobalGiving's best matching gift opportunity of the year is here! GlobalGiving will match one-time donations up to $500 at 50%, and new monthly donations at 100% of one installment's amount while funds remain, or until the campaign ends at 8:59 PT on Wednesday, July 18.  The event starts Wednesday July 18 at 6 am PT. Matching funds in similar events have run out in 30 minutes or less, so early risers will be rewarded!  

Your financial support helps us help many people and birds, each with their own story.  We were approached recently by the estate of a person who had 40ish grass parakeets, some of which are pictured here. We need YOUR help to fund their medical care. If you might be interested in fostering or adopting some or all of these spectacularly beautiful birds, we can use your help in that way too!  Potential fosters and adopters must be previously approved by Mickaboo, or agree to go through Mickaboo's approval process (which we will expedite as much as possible). 
 
You can help us continue to positively impact the lives of pet parrots needing our help. Donate through GlobalGiving's matching program on Wednesday and the first $500 of your gift could be matched!  ALL gifts of ANY size will be appreciated. 

Final update!

The last of the donation numbers are in - we raised $20,748!  Many thanks, again and always, for those of you who gave your hard-earned monies to help us achieve this goal. 

As we head into 2018, please remember that regardless of how tax laws are written, these magnificent creatures will continue to need YOUR assistance to heal and find loving permanent homes.  Thank you for joining with us as we move forward into the future. 

Update: December 31, 11:50 pm

We are excited to report we have raised just over $19 thousand dollars, an amount that will pay for about half a month's veterinary costs. The appreciation we have for the many, Many, MANY of you who gave is beyond words - so we will try expressing it in feelings.

The Quita Memorial Challenge Grant was inspired by one man's love for his parrotlet friend, Quita.  That same special relationship between human and bird that all of us at Mickaboo (and all of you who support us) feel, has kept the Mickaboo miracle alive these past 20+ years, and will keep us pushing forward into the future, to continue helping these marvelous, intelligent, beautiful creatures.

Thank you again, to all of you, for making our work possible.

Update: December 30, 11:30 pm

Woohoo - we have collected nearly $14.6K in donations, about enough to pay for 11 days of our veterinary expenses.  THANK YOU to the many generous people who have given so far!  That said, there is still over $5,000 in Quita Challenge Grant funds left - and the countdown is on to the end of the year when it's GONE.

Please give now in any of these ways, and get your 2017 tax deduction:

• online through PayPal
• at Mickaboo's FaceBook page
• using Mickaboo's website - with either of the "donate" buttons in the left margin

Your funds help birds like Jolie, a gorgeous and smart gray Indian Ringneck. She became part of Mickaboo's rescue flock in 2013 after she landed in a schoolyard and no owner came forward to claim her. Today she lives in a Mickaboo foster home. Jolie happily whistles, loves to fly and take baths, is trained to reliably step up on a perch, and has learned several tricks. And she's a Facebook phenomenon!  Learn more about her and how to adopt her at this page.

Give before the year ends to help us continue to help birds like Jolie.  Any donation will be appreciated and makes a difference!

Update: December 29, 11:00 pm

We have raised $8,000 thanks to the generosity of many of you.  There's still $7300 in Quita Challenge Grant funds left - and only two days to use them.  Take this opportunity to amplify the impact of your gift - you may give now:

• online through PayPal
• at Mickaboo's FaceBook page
• using Mickaboo's website - with either of the "donate" buttons in the left margin
• via check to Mickaboo, PO Box 697, San Jose, CA  95106

Marshmallow is one of the birds you help through your gifts.  He is a Greater Sulphur Crested Cockatoo whose owner died unexpectedly, Noone cared for her birds for some time after her passing. Alerted by and with permission from a friend of the family, Mickaboo stepped in to help and cut the padlocked cage open to rescue him.

Marshmallow has fully recuperated from his ordeal.  He is beautiful, fully feathered with a lovely yellow crest. Unlike most cockatoos, he is a very quiet bird and still fears people, but loves to play peek-a-boo and will mimic his humans' movements. He'll come out and sit on top of a cage with other birds in the household.  His foster parents can tell him to go home and he will fly to his cage. He is looking for someone who can give him the love and attention he deserves. You may read more about him and express your interest in adopting him here.

~ ~ ~ ~ ~

Take action now to help us continue to work with Marshmallow and others like him - the birds and volunteers will appreciate it! 

Update: December 28, 10:30 pm

We have raised just under $5900, meaning there is $8000 of matching funds left!  There's only three days left to use the Quita Challenge Grant funds *and* get a 2017 tax deduction to boot.  Take a moment to make a lasting impact by giving now -

• online through PayPal
• Mickaboo's FaceBook page
• Mickaboo's website - use either of the "donate" buttons in the left margin
• via check to Mickaboo, PO Box 697, San Jose, CA  95106

Your financial support enables us to help birds like Baby, a sweet and energetic lady Greenwing Macaw who came to Mickaboo in 2011. Her true age is unknown, but she is probably 10-15 years old - young for a macaw. She was dropped off at a shelter because her owner got sick and could care for her no longer. She was as naked as she is now; a full vet exam determined her to be healthy, albeit naked. Unfortunately many of her feather follicles had been permanently damaged from excessive plucking.

She loves to dance and be sung to. She is also a master of toy destruction! Wood toys are her favorite, but she likes anything she can take apart. Baby will probably always will be a bit feather-less, but she more than makes up for it with her lively personality. As you can tell from her pictures, being naked doesn’t bother her in the least!

Baby had some egg-laying problems this past year, laying four eggs in six weeks, at times becoming egg-bound enough to require emergency veterinary help.  A hormone implant placed under her skin has stopped her egg-laying for the last six months.

Baby is available for adoption. If not already adopted, she will be at Mickaboo's Adoption Fair in Carmichael on March 25. She is in a safe and healthy foster home, but she deserves a permanent home where she can be the center of attention. She gets along with men or women and she has no problems being around dogs, cats and human kids. If Baby decides she likes you, you couldn’t ask for a more loyal and loving companion. She is the type that will follow you around the house and she will even help you with washing dishes and folding laundry. 

* * *

Won't you take a moment now to save a bird (or more)?  Any amount will help and will change the life of a bird for the better.  Thank you for considering!

Update: December 27, 10:45 pm

We have collectively raised a tad under $5300 - about 3 days' worth of veterinary expenses to keep our rescue flock healthy.  There are thousands of dollars left in the Quita Challenge Grant matching funds! Give online through PayPal, Mickaboo's FaceBook page, or at Mickaboo's website - use either of the "donate" buttons in the left margin - or send a check to Mickaboo, PO Box 697, San Jose, CA  95106.

Your generosity helps birds like Fuzzball, the cockatiel pictured at right. Fuzzball was surrendered with his companion after their owner applied insecticide to their feet, thinking the insecticide would alleviate a suspected scaly mite problem. Instead, the insecticide caused both to start plucking their feathers and to become sick. The owner could not afford the veterinary help the birds needed, and so the birds were surrendered to a local shelter, which then called Mickaboo. 

Fuzzball was malnourished when we received him, and has deformed legs and hips which prevent him from standing or walking - but enjoys a good quality of life nonetheless. Fuzzball has recovered to the point where he has started flying himself around! 

Over our twenty years of existence, Mickaboo has helped thousands of birds like Fuzzball - help us continue for the next 20 years! Our many birds, now and to come, and the volunteers who serve them, will appreciate you.

Update: December 26, 11 pm

We have raised just shy of $1500 so far, about what we pay for a typical day's worth of our vet bills.  There's plenty of matching funds left - help us use it up!

Your gift will help birds like QT.  QT is a female Senegal parrot, ~21 years old. This little girl was literally at death's door when she was surrendered to an avian vet, and from there to Mickaboo.  She survived, and after a couple of weeks of intensive care she was recovering and thriving at her foster home.  She is curious, loves attention and toys and music.  And she's a dancer! She has started clicker training and is a very, very fast learner.  She was not well-socialized and is learning to step up consistently. She does best with women and her primary caregiver should be female. Interested in learning more about QT? Write to her adoption specialist!

Thank you for enabling us to serve these magnificant creatures.

The volunteers and the 650+ birds they care for at Mickaboo Companion Bird Rescue wish all of you a peaceful holiday season and a Happy New Year!

In the spirit of the season, a generous supporter has created the Fourth Annual Quita Memorial Challenge Grant to honor his beloved parrotlet.  For every $3 donated between now and December 31, midnight PT, the Challenge Grant will contribute $1 until the $10,000 in matching funds is used up.  Give online through PayPal, or at Mickaboo's website - use either of the "donate" buttons in the left margin.

Because of your generosity, this year Mickaboo was able to take in over 220 birds (most notably  during July's epic aviary rescue), find permanent homes for more than 230, and are now caring for 650+ companion birds of all types, from finches to macaws.  Our foster parents provide a warm and loving environment for each of these beautiful, intelligent beings while other volunteers find suitable adopters.  Consider starting your new year by opening your home to one of our special birds!

One of these special birds is Peetie, a gorgeous lorikeet.  Her former owners had had her for 15 years, and were forced to surrender her due to their own health challenges. Peetie imitates many sounds - so far her foster family has heard: Peetie girl, Take a bath, Hey!, What are you doing, Pretty bird, Night night, Bye bye, Are you being bad, OK, and Hello. She also imitates perfectly a woman's sneeze, and whistles like she's calling a dog.

Help us help birds like Peetie during this Challenge Grant; doing so now makes your gift go further – while allowing you a valuable year-end tax deduction. 

Watch this space for news about some of the other birds you help, and our fundraising progress, during this Challenge Grant!

Final update:

YOU collectively gave us $13.6K in response to this Challenge Grant.  That's about enough for a week's worth of vet bills at our current rates!  THANK YOU all from the bottom of our hearts.  We hope you all enjoy a very merry holiday season.

In honor of Mickaboo's 20th Anniversary, a generous benefactor has offered a $4000 Challenge Grant!  All donations today, received online or at Mickaboo's Holiday Party, will qualify for a 50% match.  Let's use it up!  You may use either mickaboo.org or PayPal.me/Mickaboo to give online.

Your financial support helps us help birds like Morado, a Mexican red-headed amazon. Morado was found outside as a stray, kept for a time by the good samaritan who found her, and ultimately surrendered to Mickaboo.  Though not yet hand tame she will accept treats from a hand. She enjoys listening to music, like the theme to Disney's Robin Hood, and whistling along.  Fun fact: Morado is a foodie! She prefers to eat her fresh vegetables mixed with a tiny dab of hummus, tomato sauce, potato soup, quinoa, or curry sauce. 

You may learn more about Morado and inquire about adopting her here.

Thank you again for your support for the last 20 years, and in the years to come!

FINAL RESULTS:  Nov 28, 11:20 pm PT

#GivingTuesday is over - and we've met our fundraising goal!  Thanks to you, we raised $10,397 (including matching funds). That's just about enough to pay for a week's worth of our veterinary expenses for our flock of 650 birds!

Our birds, the volunteers who care for them day in and day out, and our Board of Directors are grateful for your outpouring of generosity.

GlobalGiving is participating in #GivingTuesday with another matching gift day! From NOW until Tuesday, Nov 28, 9 pm PT, GlobalGiving will match your online donations, up to $1,000 per donor per nonprofit. The match rate will be determined by how much Mickaboo raises as a percentage of all monies raised. This means donations made during the entire day will count! Head to this link to give.

Your gifts help birds like those pictured here.  Mojo and Tory are 23- and 19-year-old cherry-headed conures surrendered to Mickaboo by a woman who had them their whole lives, and only gave them up when she was hospitalized permanently.  (Conures like these have a life expectancy of around 30 years.) Their feather-plucking behavior has been successfully addressed by changes to their diet and environment.  Mojo, the larger of the two, has added some English words ("Hello!" "Take a bath!") to his birdie vocabulary.  Both enjoy interacting outside of their cage with their humans.  The top picture shows what they look like now; the bottom picture shows their previous appearance.

Interested in adopting this beautiful pair?  See more information and contact their adoption coordinator here.

Thank you for being there for our birds and our volunteers - it's an old phrase, but we really couldn't do what we do without you!

Final update:

Wow!  Thanks to your generosity, we raised a grand total of $16,903!  This includes $3460 in matching funds and $500 in bonus prize funds.  WOOHOO! 

I am sure all of the canaries will be singing your praises tomorrow morning as the sun rises.  From all of them and all of our volunteers - thank you.

4:00 pm update:

Thanks to all of you, we have raised an incredible $10,000 so far, from 66 of our supporters, with additional bonus and matching dollars to be determined.  

Mickaboo is solidly in the running for winning bonus prizes for most unique donors and most $ donations (worth $200-$500 each).  At the moment we have $800 in bonus prize money - we need to hang onto those prizes! Those of you who haven't given yet... please consider? Any amount ($10+) counts!  And those of you who have already given - tell a friend! 

The giving link is here.  All amounts are appreciated by our volunteers and birds, and will help other birds experience the joy of good health and a sunny environment.

Thank you for your support!

2:00 pm update:

Thanks to all of you, we have raised $6,158 so far, from 48 of our supporters, with additional bonus and matching dollars to be determined.  

Mickaboo is in the running for winning bonus prizes for most unique donors and most $ donations (worth $200-$500 each).  We currently have $800 in bonus prize money - it would be great to hang onto that!  Sooo, those of you who haven't given yet... please consider!  Any amount ($10+) counts!  And those of you who have already given - spread the word to your friends! 

The giving link is here.  All amounts are appreciated by our volunteers and birds.

Thanks for considering!

11:15 am update:

Twenty-seven generous souls have collectively given $4355 - a little less than 20% of the canary flock's veterinary costs so far.  That's a marvelous start!  Help us get closer to our $23,000 fundraising goal by giving here - and your funds will be matched if received by 9 pm today.

GlobalGiving's last matching day of 2017 is today! From 6 am – 9 pm PT, GlobalGiving will match your online donations, up to $1,000 per donor per project. The match rate will be determined by how much Mickaboo raises as a percentage of all monies raised. This means donations made during the entire day will count! Head to this link to give.

Your donations will help all of our birds, and especially those in our recent aviary rescue.  The below is an in-depth look at the large flock of canaries in that rescue. 

The entire flock of beautiful and varied canaries was in terrible health. Several have died, and it is likely that more will soon, despite specialized veterinary care. They were infected with malaria and canary pox, both carried by mosquitoes [canaries are susceptible to several mosquito-borne diseases, so outdoor aviaries should include protective screening] as well as cryptosporidium, an intestinal parasite; macrorhabdus, or avian gastric yeast; and parasitic nematodes. Not all of the canaries were afflicted with all of these things, but some did have everything listed above, and none of them were free of illness. Neither malaria nor canary pox is curable, although they are not always fatal. They do, however, weaken the bird and shorten its life expectancy.

We decided to treat the birds for the conditions that could be treated and give supportive care to save as many as possible. Because there were so many very sick birds needing veterinary care, this has been the single most expensive rescue in Mickaboo's history. 

There were 31 canaries in all — an unusually large number of these small birds, especially for Mickaboo, which doesn’t receive very many canaries. One long-time volunteer with a big heart, M.A. Samuelson, offered to foster all 31 of them. After it became clear the birds would require an unusually long treatment and recovery period, with no guarantee of full recovery, M.A. built an aviary for them. Designed to protect them from the environment while providing room to fly and exercise, this aviary would give them the best chance to recover. 

We were extremely fortunate that M.A. had the space and the willingness to create such a fantastic indoor/outdoor aviary space suitable for this large canary flock.

Some of the canaries are still hospitalized, as are a few of the other birds from the same rescue.  But most of the birds, including the canaries, will survive and live comfortable and happy lives.

Veterinary expenses for the canaries have reached $23,000 and continue to rise. Please help us with this extraordinary rescue by giving now - any amount will help - and today, will be matched by GlobalGiving funds!  Watch this blog space, or Mickaboo's Facebook page, for updates during the day!

FINAL UPDATE 7/16/2017:

The final tally is in!  We have reached our fundraising goal, thanks to all of you who gave money and hope to the 600+ feathered friends in our rescue flock.  We cannot thank you enough for your generosity and kindness.

UPDATE 9:00 PM:

Here are the final results from today's online fundraising - we raised 71% of our $20K goal!  That's $14.2K, or about enough for 1.5 weeks of vet bills at our current expense level. And matching funds remain to cover the checks we hope to see in our PO Box this weekend.

If YOU would like to drop a check in the mail for our birds, please mail them to:
Mickaboo, PO Box 697, San Jose, CA  95106

THANK YOU again for your generosity!

UPDATE 6:15 PM:

We are now at 68% of our goal! The Challenge Grant deadline of 9 pm PT is drawing near - won't you help get us closer?

Your generosity helps birds like Baby, a female greenwing macaw in our rescue flock.  A month ago she was not eating, not acting like herself, and straining to poop. So she went to the UC Davis vet hospital for an emergency visit. She was egg bound! The vets had to keep her overnight but they were able to remove the egg without complications. They sent her home with pain medication, antibiotics and a lupron implant to prevent egg-laying.

She was doing great! Back to her sweet self and exhibiting significantly less hormonal behavior. But last Friday she laid another egg. Then Saturday night she started acting like she was trying to lay yet another egg. The vet said it might take 2-3 days for her to pass the egg. So we could only watch her. On Monday, she had several prolonged episodes where she was straining really hard to pass the egg so she went back to UC Davis.

Baby's first vet adventure cost Mickaboo just over $1000. We're pretty sure this second vet visit will be about the same! Baby is back home and a bit grumpy, and otherwise doing fine.

Help us help birds in our care like Baby?  Give online while matching funds last! OR, send a check to Mickaboo, PO Box Box 697, San Jose, CA  95106 so that it reaches us by Friday, July 14.  If any matching funds remain after today, the residual will apply to those checks.

UPDATE 12:00 PM:

We are now at 60% of today's goal.  Keep sharing our message of hope and caring for these feathered beauties - and give here!

UPDATE 11:00 AM:

We have collectively raised 57% of today's $20K online fundraising goal - and we have several hours left before the day runs out.  THANK YOU for all of your generosity!  

More about the Telegraph Hill conures we are featuring today:  Emma (at the top) came to us with a messy little beak and a rather charming head tilt. The tilt, while cute, is one of the neurological symptoms that we see with many of these sick San Francisco flock conures.  Emma is currently able to sit. We hope to get her climbing and perching with some physical therapy.  Emma does have a ways to go, so she’ll be racking up vet bills for a while.

In the middle is Larkin, named because he was found at Chestnut and Larkin streets!  Larkin came to us on June 29.  You can see from the picture that he’s a feisty little guy, completely destroying a foraging packet and surrounded by the resulting shredded pile of newspaper ads!  However, like Emma, he has neurological symptoms and has been at the vet now for several weeks.

Finishing out our collage with another head-tilt pose is Valencia.  He came at the same time as Emma and was found nearby - maybe they were best friends!  Valencia shows the most pronounced neurological symptoms of the three, so we’re especially crossing our fingers for this little sweetheart.  Like Emma and Larkin, Valencia will need a lot of medication and veterinary care to get well enough to go to a foster home and then get adopted.

* * *

Please help us help Emma, Larkin, Valencia, and their feathered friends in our rescue flock - give here while matching funds last!

UPDATE 7:35 AM:

The GlobalGiving Bonus Day matching funds have run out!  That said, some of our generous supporters have banded together to create a Mickaboo Challenge Grant to help us meet today's fundraising goal. 

Please give here to make your Mickaboo Challenge Grant donation, it will be matched at 30% while matching funds remain.  If you prefer to donate via check, you may send it to 
     Mickaboo Companion Bird Rescue, PO Box 697, San Jose, CA  95106

Check donations postmarked today, July 12, and received by July 14 will be matched (if matching funds remain).

We have collectively raised about $6K toward today's $20K fundraising goal. Please give and share!  THANK YOU for all you do to help our feathered friends.

Mickaboo has reached a turning point in our 20-year history.  Would you help us continue helping companion birds for another 20 (or more) years by donating during today's matching gift event?

Your donation today can go further during the matching gift event underway now (Wednesday, July 12), 6 am - 9 pm PT. GlobalGiving will match your online donations, up to $1,000 per donor at 50% - if you give while the $110,000 in matching funds remain. Give early to help ensure YOU get the match!  

The flock of rescued birds for which we actively care has grown by almost 40% since 2013!  This growth, together with the resulting financial costs, is unsustainable in the long run. We are therefore embarking on a series of measures to, over time, reduce the size of the flock and our expenses to more manageable levels. We have also established a quasi-endowment fund to help ensure Mickaboo's long-term financial stability, so that we can continue to exist for the birds to whom we have made a lifelong commitment. 

Your generosity today and in the future will help birds like:

• the three pictured Telegraph Hill conures, recent additions who needed medical attention for their neurological condition
• Baby, a macaw amongst the flock of 600+ birds we are now caring for, who needed veterinary help this week to pass her egg
• Verde, a rosella surrendered to Mickaboo after his guardian passed away, now with a wonderful adoptive parent

Help these and our many other birds heal! We have a $20,000 fundraising goal today, about a half-month of vet bills.  Take advantage of today's matching gift opportunity now, and watch our progress throughout the day at this blog.

May 5, 7:30 am - final results:

Thanks to the 60ish generous supporters who gave during this event, we raised $7,575!  That, plus the Challenge Grant match, totals $9,848, or about enough to pay for a week's worth of our typical monthly veterinary expenses.

Nimbus and Breeze, the budgies pictured at right, were rescued by neighbors and turned over to Mickaboo when a deceased's family members had thought to release them into the wild.  They, the other 500+ members of our rescued flock, and all of our volunteers THANK YOU!

6:30 pm update:

We have received $6,370 from 49 generous souls - thank you! Your financial support helps us help birds like Taco, a black-capped caique who was "orphaned" when his human had to make the agonizing choice between managing her own pressing medical needs and taking care of her feathered family.  

We still have over half of the Challenge Grant - and another magical 100% matching hour (9pm-10pm) coming!  If you plan on leveraging the matching hour, be quick and donate right at 9 pm! The matching hour's funds are first-come, first-served, and all of Mickaboo's earlier donations have been too late for the 100% matches.

Today's donation website is here.  Thank you for your generosity!

12:30 pm update:

Thanks to sooo many of you, we now have $5,140 from 43 generous supporters. Our volunteers thank you, and Franklin (pictured) thanks you! 

Franklin was found and brought in by a concerned couple who had noticed him clinging forlornly to their bird feeder all alone, for prolonged periods over several days without the company of the rest of his flock.  He was treated for a respiratory infection and ultimately, diagnosed with psittacosis, which we are now in the process of treating. We are hopeful that Franklin will make a full recovery, after weeks of tests, boarding and treatment.

Please help us as we continue to strive toward our $15,000 fundraising goal for today.  There's still $2,458 in Challenge Grant matching funds left, and ONE more 100% matching hour (at 9 pm tonight).  The donation link is: https://www.eastbaygives.org/mickaboo

10:00 am update:

We have collectively raised $1400 from 15 supporters - thanks to those of you who got up early and donated during the 6 am 100% matching gift hour! 

We have $3,580 remaining in Mickaboo's Challenge Grant.  Let's use it up at 11 am (the next 100% matching hour) to help birds like Guerrero (described below) and our rescue flock of over 500 birds!  The donation link is: https://www.eastbaygives.org/mickaboo

Mickaboo is proud to be participating in East Bay Gives, a local one-day fundraising event making a philanthropic impact in the San Francisco Bay Area.  Members of our Board of Directors and a generous supporter have teamed up to provide a $4,000 Challenge Grant - and giving during selected hours of the event could more than double YOUR impact!

Give at this website and have your donation matched at 30% by the Challenge Grant while it lasts. Give during the 6 am, 11 am, or 9 pm hours (all Pacific Time Zone) to have your donation matched by ANOTHER 100% while bonus funds set aside for those time slots exist!

Your gifts will help birds like Guerrero, a former member of the iconic Parrots of Telegraph Hill flock. Guerrero was brought to Mickaboo by a concerned member of the public who saw he was unable to use his legs and was struggling to keep up with his flock. Since late February, Guerrero has been boarded at avian vet facilities while we rehabilitate him and attempt to fully diagnose the cause. Guerrero will need ongoing specialist foster care to help him recover.  While his legs might not be working, his wings certainly are, and so he enjoys a good quality of life.

Help us help Guerrero and other birds like him?  We have over 520 birds in our rescued flock now, each special in their own right.  Give now or at the 6 am, 11 am, or 9 pm hours to make your gift go furthest!

We have a $15K fundraising goal for today. Stay tuned to this blog or Mickaboo's Facebook page for updates throughout the day.  Thank you for your generosity!

Amazon is celebrating its #1 ranking in customer satisfaction by the ACSI! On March 16, Amazon will donate 5% (10 times the usual donation rate) of the price of your eligible AmazonSmile purchases to Mickaboo Companion Bird Rescue. Get started at smile.amazon.com/ch/94-3286344.

Final update:

The final results are in!  Together we raised almost $38,000, blowing past our $30,000 fundraising goal! I am humbled by and grateful for the outpouring of generosity this represents - enough to almost pay for a month's average veterinary costs incurred by our rescue flock of over 500 birds.

THANK YOU!

We wish you and yours a healthy and happy new year - and if you find yourself thinking about adding a companion animal to your household, we hope you will consider adopting one of our special feathered friends, be it a budgie, a macaw, or someone in between!

December 31, 2016 update:

We have raised almost 90% of our $30,000 fundraising goal.  That's almost enough to pay for 2.5 weeks of our average monthly medical bills, or routine vet procedures for 130 birds!  THANK YOU to all of you who have given so far.  That said, there is MORE matching gift funds to be used - and this matching gift challenge ends at midnight TODAY.

Your gifts help birds like Jasmine, a Congo African Grey. Her owner surrendered her to a shelter when they could no longer afford her vet bills.  She plucks and self mutilates both wings, likely due to a avian form of OCD, and hence wears a soft collar to curtail the harm she does to herself. She is very sweet and easy to handle. 

Donate now to help us help birds like Jasmine. Helping us during this Challenge Grant makes your gift go further – while allowing you a year-end tax deduction. Don't let time run out on you! Give online through PayPal, or at Mickaboo's website - use either of the "donate" buttons in the left margin.

Wishing everyone a safe and Happy New Year!

December 30, 2016 update:

We are 73% of the way towards our $30,000 fundraising goal! That sum will pay for over two weeks of the average monthly veterinary bills for our flock of 530+ rescued birds.  We cannot say THANK YOU enough to all those who gave.  That said, there is still matching gift funds to be used up in the next TWO days.

Rescue work knows no holidays.  We told you about Chenery, a Wild Flock of Telegraph Hill conure, rescued over Christmas weekend.  We told you about a newly-evicted woman who contacted us this week about her beloved pet budgie. Yet more recently, our volunteers saved these five budgies whose lives were threatened by a family member.

Your financial support allows us to be ready to help birds in these circumstances and more. Helping us during this Challenge Grant makes your gift go further – while allowing you a year-end tax deduction. Give online through PayPal, or at Mickaboo's website - use either of the "donate" buttons in the left margin.

We hope you’ve enjoyed a joyous holiday season and wish you a happy and healthy New Year.

December 29, 2016 update:

We have raised almost $12,260 towards our $30,000 fundraising goal. WOW! That's almost enough to pay for 1.5 weeks of our average medical bills!  THANK YOU to the many generous souls who have given so far.  That said, there is a LOT of matching gift funds to be used up in the next three days.

Your gifts help birds like Chenery, one of of San Francisco's storied Wild Parrots of Telegraph Hill. An animal shelter gave him to us this past week when it appeared to them he had a broken wing.  After undergoing xrays, Chenery is resting comfortably in a foster parent's home and is on antibiotics while we await the final diagnosis.  The prelimininary examination indicates something other than a broken wing is afoot.

Help us help birds like Chenery while there's still matching funds available - there's just three days left! Give online through PayPal, or at Mickaboo's website - use either of the "donate" buttons in the left margin.

Thank you all for you do to help those needing our love and care.

December 28, 2016 update:

We have raised almost $2,300 so far towards our $30,000 fundraising goal. That's almost enough to pay for 6 birds' average medical bills - hooray!  That said, there is a LOT of matching gift funds left!  

Your generosity helps us help birds like Snookie, a friendly greencheek conure left at a shelter after his owner was evicted.  There has been a lot of news about the Bay Area's high (and still climbing) housing costs and its effect on people; there is no less of an effect on their companion animals.  Just yesterday we were contacted by a woman living in her car, reluctantly contemplating surrendering her beloved budgie to Mickaboo out of her concern for the bird's well-being.

Help us be there for the avian caregivers who need us and their birds, who otherwise would be facing a dismal future. Give now, and the Quita Memorial Challenge Grant will match your gift!  Give online through PayPal, or at Mickaboo's website - use either of the "donate" buttons in the left margin.

Thank you all for your generosity, now, in the past, and going forward.  

December 27, 2016 update: 

We have raised $306 so far towards our $30,000 fundraising goal.  That's a great start - about enough for a basic bird exam with tests.  Let's see how much better we can do today!

Your financial support helps us help birds like Lexi, a cockatiel.  Lexi was left outside the Oakland Animal shelter in a cage with maggots in the bottom and cat food tins for food dishes.  Her tail had been ripped out. Her "before" picture is at the left.

In the two months since she was surrendered to Mickaboo, her beautif​ul new tail has grown in and is already 2" long!  

Would you help us help birds like Lexi?  Giving during this Challenge Grant helps your gift go further - and giving during these last few days of 2016 gives you a tax deduction!

Give online through PayPal, or at Mickaboo's website - use either of the "donate" buttons in the left margin.

Thank you again for all you do for Mickaboo, now and throughout the year.

The volunteers and birds at Mickaboo Companion Bird Rescue want to wish you a peaceful holiday season and a Happy New Year!

In the spirit of the season, an avid supporter has created the Third Annual Quita Memorial Challenge Grant in honor of his beloved parrotlet.  For every $3 donated between now and December 31, midnight PT, the Challenge Grant will contribute $1 until the $10,000 in matching funds are gone.  Give online through PayPal, or at Mickaboo's website - use either of the "donate" buttons in the left margin.

Thanks to your generosity, Mickaboo took in over 260 birds this year and are now caring for more than 530 companion birds of all types, from finches to macaws.  Our foster parents provide a warm and loving environment for each of these intelligent feathered beings while other volunteers find suitable adopters.  (Consider starting your new year by adopting one of our special birds!)

Here is a story about just one of the birds you helped.

Mint’s owner contacted Mickaboo when he found she had Psittacine Beak and Feather Disease (PBFD).  PBFD is a viral infection without any proven treatment and is fatal to younger birds.  It can be transmitted to other birds through direct contact, through inhalation of feather dust, and through shared use of items like food dishes and perches.  The virus can survive on surfaces for months. Mint’s surrenderer did not want his other birds exposed to PBFD, so he put Mint and her mate outside on his balcony, further jeopardizing the two birds' health.

We needed to find someone to provide hospice care – one with no other birds and no future plans to keep any birds. We were fortunate to find a volunteer through our partnership with Palomacy.  Mint (and her mate) have a warm, loving home, just in time for the holidays!  The picture at the right shows Mint in her new abode, watched closely by another family member.

Please help us help birds like Mint during this Challenge Grant; doing so now makes your gift go further – while allowing you a year-end tax deduction. 

Watch this space for news about some of the other birds you help, and our fundraising progress, during this Challenge Grant!

Final update: Thanks to your collective generosity, we raised $3,637 in the Holiday Party Challenge Grant.  That amount will pay for about 3 days' veterinary expenses at our now-current rate.  Our birds and our volunteers appreciate your contributions!

The Mickaboo Holiday Party Challenge Grant has begun!

Inspired by #GivingTuesday, a generous donor is sponsoring this Challenge Grant. For every $2 donated now online or in person until 9 pm Pacific Time today, $1 will be given to Mickaboo by the donors, until we have raised $5,000 (when matching funds run out).  With this financial help, we will be able to pay for the vet exams of about 25  birds - a wonderful gift.

If you're at or coming to the party - consider donating there.  Watch our thermometer chart!

If you can't come and want to help birds like Sienna (cockatiel pictured with a wing cast) - give online during the same timeframe, now until 9 pm today. We will update our Facebook page throughout the party. Stay tuned!