Midwest Avian Adoption & Rescue Services (MAARS)

The homeless pet bird population is increasing at a frightening rate. Like other exotic pets, parrots are often much more difficult to keep than people anticipate because they are WILD animals -- not domesticated as human companions for thousands of generations like dogs and cats. High care demands, behavioral challenges, and an extremely long life expectancy leave many parrots unwanted and homeless. Only a small fraction of birds -- especially large parrots -- will remain in their first home for their entire lifetime. Unfortunately, public education has not yet caught up to these realities of birdkeeping, and the "throw-away" bird population has recently boomed as exotic pets have become more and more fashionable.

MAARS' first function is to educate the public and people who already live with birds about proper bird care. We feel that education about bird care and behavior helps people to provide the best homes possible for the birds already in captivity.

Our second function is to accept and rescue surrendered, abandoned, neglected, and abused parrots and other captive exotic birds for health care, behavioral therapy, and placement in a new home or sanctuary.

MAARS is a no-kill, non-profit organization funded solely through adoption fees and donations. We are based in the Twin Cities (Minneapolis/St. Paul) area and serve Minnesota and the surrounding Midwest area. We also work extensively on a national level in cooperation with other organizations that share our mission.