Home > News & Events > MAARSianChronicles > Issue 12: April 2005 > MAARS News & Events: A Busy MAARS Spring Includes Classes, Cleaning, Cooperation, Conferences & Celebration!

MAARS News & Events

A Busy MAARS Spring Includes Classes, Cleaning, Cooperation, Conferences & Celebration!

MAARS Joins WSPA

MAARS is proud to have been accepted as a Member Society of the World Society for the Protection of Animals (WSPA), joining more than 500 other animal protection and advocacy organization from 120 countries around the globe!

Click here to learn more about WSPA.

April 16: Crew Makes The Landing Shine!

We had a big day at The Landing on Saturday, April 16! Many MAARS Volunteers and Supporters joined us at the shelter for a day full of projects and fun! People came in shifts between 10:00 a.m. and 5:00 p.m., and some even stayed all day! Some of the projects we accomplished included:

• Power-washing cages

• Cleaning all of the carpet in the shelter

• Patching and painting walls

• Destroying and disposing of old cages (we often get inappropriate cages when birds are surrendered)

• Cleaning and organizing of storage area

• Setting up a computer network

• Organizing office space

• Preparing for National Volunteer Week

A big thank you to everyone who helped out!

If you're interested in helping MAARS at future events like this, please contact projectdays@maars2.org.

April 17: MAARS on Animal Wise Radio

If you tuned into KDWA - 1460 AM and AM 950 Air America Minnesota at noon on Sunday, April 17, you heard MAARS' Eileen McCarthy and Alayne Rueber talk about birds on Animal Wise Radio, hosted by Animal Ark Executive Director, Mike Fry!

April 17–23: MAARS Celebrates National Volunteer Week with Survivor: The Landing

In coordination with National Volunteer Week , MAARS recognizes the incredible contributions and commitment made by its amazing Volunteer Staff! This year's theme, Survivor: The Landing, is a humorous way to look at how serious the challenges of providing for the birds in MAARS' care can be.

MAARS Volunteers enter the shelter through vines, spiders, and snakes under a banner exclaiming: "There's No Immunity In Here!" Armed with their survival kits, volunteers then step into the jungle of birds at The Landing. Their survival kits contain:

• 2 Cotton Balls: For the times they can't even hear themselves think.

• Aspirin: In case the cotton balls are ineffective.

• Lifesavers: For when someone is having "one of those days" at The Landing.

• Water: To quench their thirst or bathe a bird, they can decide.

• Bandages: In case the birds are winning that day.

• 2 Pennies: So volunteers have the "cents" to realize how valuable they are.

Every week volunteers face daunting challenges including catching cagey cockatiels, ducking darting lories, corralling curious cockatoos, and managing mischievous macaws. Everyone participates! All joking aside, these people give four hours of their free time every week for a minimum of one year. Some have been doing this since 1999, the year MAARS was created. How incredible is that? These extraordinary people are survivors — committed to our castaways, the birds in MAARS' care.

We need more Volunteers! Click here for more information on volunteering with MAARS.

May 5 & June 7: Basic Bird Care Classes

Do you have a bird? Or are you thinking about getting a bird?

Come learn the basics of bird care in the Basic Bird Care Class. This class is taught by MAARS volunteers and a certified veterinary technician and offered through St. Louis Park Community Education. This class is required for all MAARS volunteers and adopters, and is open to the public.

Topics include:

• Physical exam

• How to know if your bird is sick

• What to do in an emergency

• Diet

• Housing considerations

• Environmental enrichment

• Common household hazards

Classes are held the first Thursday of each month (the next class will be held on May 5, 2005).

6:30–8:30 p.m.

Central Community Center, Room 217

6300 Walker St.

St. Louis Park, MN 55416

$16.00

Click here for registration information or to register online.

May 7: Avian Behavior Conference

Is your bird driving you batty? Have you ruffled her feathers? It may be time to seek professional help!

Avian Suites, MAARS Corporate Sponsor, has put together a terrific program as part of the Avian Behavior Council that is sure to teach all of us a thing or two!

Saturday, May 7, 2005

8:30 a.m.–5:30 p.m.

U of M Continuing Education & Conference Center

1890 Buford Avenue, St. Paul, MN

Click here for details and to download the brochure and registration form.

May 21: Education & Adoption Info Event

Saturday, May 21, 2005

1:00–4:00 p.m.

1:00 Captive Bird Care Education

2:00–4:00 p.m. MAARS Adoption Information

Animal Ark Hastings Shelter

2600 Industrial Court

Hastings, MN 55033

Click here or call (651) 772-8983 for more information or registration.

All content Copyright © 1999-2019 by Midwest Avian Adoption & Rescue Services, Inc.

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