Home > Help Us > Gimme Shelter! > Issue 6: June 2006 > Malachi: A Time to Heal

Malachi: A Time to Heal

Malachi is a wild-caught male Moluccan Cockatoo who came to MAARS in 2003 after being left at the after-hours drop of a local shelter in a cage barely large enough for him to turn around. Although his breast, abdomen, legs, and upper wings are completely bare and the feather follicles destroyed to the extent that they can no longer produce the magnificent salmon-colored plumage that once covered his body, he has a noble, calm presence.

For at least the first year that Malachi lived at The Landing, he was wary of other birds, nervous around humans, and would rarely come out of his cage. Many of the Volunteer Staff spent time interacting with Malachi on his terms, which most often included scratching his head while he was protected within his cage. His vocal repertoire, at that time, consisted mostly of clear, unmistakable dog barks — he never yelled, strutted, or displayed like the other male Cockatoos.

After several months, Malachi began to enjoy throwing a large ball out of his cage and watching the Volunteer Staff go and "fetch." To encourage his play, Volunteer Staff hung a ball in his cage which he would enjoy swinging towards the Staff, waiting for them to swing it back towards him, catching it in his beak and then swinging it back again. He also began venturing out of his cage more, and really enjoyed stealing spray bottles and chewing them up. He would follow the Volunteer Staff around, waiting until their attention was distracted, and then he would strike — quickly grabbing a spray bottle and usually knocking over food and water containers in the process. As Malachi became more comfortable and adventurous, he began letting himself out of his cage after lights out and many mornings was found quietly sitting atop his cage, patiently waiting for the usual morning feast of fresh grains, vegetables, and fruit.

Then, one day about a year ago, Malachi took a courageous leap of faith and willingly stepped on to the arm of one of the Senior Staff. He allowed her to carry him out to The Landing reception area, where he spent a half hour or so, looking around and watching everyone come and go, clearly comforted by being close to his friend and protector. Since that day, Malachi has learned to trust many of the Volunteer Staff and often wants to be near those he trusts. He now rarely hesitates to come out of his cage, walk around on the floor, or perch up high and enthusiastically make characteristic Cockatoo vocalizations and full body displays. With time, patience, and the opportunity to progress at his own pace, Malachi has reclaimed the confidence, security, dignity, and sense of belonging that are rightly his.

Join the MAARS Flock Today…and Be the Wind Beneath Their Wings!

The MAARS Annual Membership Program gives you and our other loyal MAARS Supporting Flock Members the opportunity to help MAARS on an ongoing, sustaining basis. Your annual financial contribution will allow us to continue to provide and expand our valuable rescue, intake, care, veterinary and behavioral evaluation and treatment, adoption, sanctuary, outreach, and educational services for the displaced captive birds who we meet and the people whose lives they touch.

With so little, you can do so much to change the lives of birds like Malachi. On average, it takes $1.00 per day to care for each MAARS bird. Every small donation makes a big difference, and big donations help even more. Your participation in the MAARS Annual Membership Program will help save and improve the lives of hundreds of parrots and other displaced captive birds.

Please join MAARS today! Give them shelter! Ease their pain! Stop the cycle! And know that you made one corner of the world a better place for another living creature!

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Mail a check or money order made out to "MAARS" to: MAARS, 1360 University Ave W #347, St. Paul, MN 55104.

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Midwest Avian Adoption & Rescue Services, Inc., is recognized by the IRS as a 501(c)(3) non-profit organization (Federal ID# 41-1944074) and is registered with the Office of the Secretary of State and the Office of the Attorney General of Minnesota as a charitable organization. All donations are tax-deductible to the fullest extent allowed by law.

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