Meet The Plumery flock

“Salsa”
Green-winged Macaw
Say hello to Salsa, a sweetie pie of a Green-winged macaw with a heart of gold!
Salsa was incredibly close to her person, and, like many parrots, she started plucking her feathers in frustration and sorrow when they were separated—a distressing, self-harm behavior. Parrots, both intelligent and emotional, often form lifelong bonds. When those bonds are broken, they can take a terrible toll.
Salsa spent a year at a zoo, but it wasn’t the right environment for a macaw who thinks she’s human. Now, at just 16 years old (with the potential to live into her 80s!), Salsa has found a haven in one of our amazing foster homes. She is so much happier and more relaxed. She’s allowing new feathers to grow!
This lovable girl has a long road ahead, but we’re committed to helping her heal, one feather and one step at a time. Stay tuned for more updates on Salsa’s journey —there’s so much more to come!

“Peaches”
Goffin Cockatoo
Say hello to Peaches, a spirited Goffin cockatoo, about 16 years old, whose personality is larger than life! This little slightly plucked chicken recently joined The Plumery family when his previous owners realized that life with a parrot just wasn't the right fit for them - even though they loved him dearly.
Peaches has now settled into one of our amazing foster homes, where he is thoroughly enjoying a gourmet diet and endless playtime. From the moment he arrived, Peaches started to show off his vibrant personality. Somewhat isolated in his previous home, Peaches is making incredible strides every day!
Understandably cautious to begin with, Peaches has really taken to stepping up to get attention and to be weighed! He's also happily adventurous with his diet, exploring the tasty joy of fresh foods like the mini-champ he was meant to be.
But that’s not all—Peaches is quite the chatterbox! He loves to greet us with a cheerful "Hello," "Hi," and even asks, "How are you?" He proudly says his own name, and we expect he has a few more surprises up his feathered sleeve.

“Pepper” and “Tinkerbell”
Yellow-naped Amazons
Pepper and Tinkerbell, each on one side or the other of 40 years old, are a bonded pair of Amazons who were relinquished by their owner after 30 years.
They are truly a joy to watch interact with each other. Pepper does not do well when he is separated from Tinkerbell and can get aggressive with people if she is out of his sight. Tinkerbell does not display the same kind of obsession toward her boy friend!
At their Plumery foster home, they both step up to go to a play stand, be weighed, and enjoy going on outings (sharing a carrier).
The duo has a large repertoire of phrases and songs and get a kick out of laughing at each other. Tinkerbell greets each morning singing “Oh, what a beautiful morning!”
Like any married couple, they sometimes bicker but are quick to forgive. Pepper will even say, “I’m sorry.”
We have a feeling we’ll be party to many more of their conversations!

"Malibu"
Nanday Conure
This young conure’s journey began when a kind-hearted stranger found him injured and rushed him to a veterinary hospital. The vets, recognizing the severity of his condition, contacted The Plumery’s Facility Manager. Without hesitation, she and our Executive Director sprang into action—coordinating emergency transport and securing an urgent appointment with an avian specialist.
The diagnosis was grim: a fractured ulna—a broken wing bone. The vet administered fluids, antibiotics, and carefully wrapped his delicate wing in a soft cast. But the real uncertainty lay ahead. Would he survive the night? Would his wing heal, or would amputation be inevitable?
We named him Malibu, after the wild conure flock that soars over the nearby coastline. But unlike his free-flying counterparts, he now faced an uncertain future, tethered to human care. True to his wild nature, Malibu didn’t understand human hands—what was a finger, if not a threat? But with unwavering gentle persistence, he was guided toward trust. He took his medication, adapted to his new surroundings, and, most importantly, never lost his fighting spirit.
Despite the hardship, Malibu had two things in his favor—a fierce appetite and an insatiable curiosity. Day by day, he grew stronger. Week by week, he adjusted. The only thing he truly resented? The dreaded plastic cone, universally loathed by animals everywhere. But a solution was found, and in time, he even began stepping onto a finger willingly.
Then came the moment we had all been waiting for. After weeks of dedicated care, the vet removed the cast—and what we feared might be impossible became reality. Malibu’s wing had healed. Not only that, but to the team’s amazement, new feathers had already begun sprouting where the injury had once been so severe.
His journey isn’t over. Malibu still requires rehabilitation, and whether he will regain the ability to fly remains uncertain. But what is certain is his resilience, his intelligence, and his ability to find joy in the world around him. And for now, he’s thriving in the safety of his foster home—one step, one feather, one miracle at a time.

"L'il Bird"
Blue Fronted Amazon
L’il Bird was happy and fulfilled for much of his life in the company of a loving couple who made him the center of their lives. Busy with work, they often brought Li’l Bird along on their travels. But, as happens in so many instances, changes occurred. Li’l Bird was left at home, always in the care of qualified avian pet sitters, when the couple went away. The amount of time given to playing with L’il Bird diminished. And the couple grew older too, reaching the point when they knew the time had come to put their cherished pet’s interests first.
The couple contacted all the rescues and sanctuaries near them... and then farther away... and then finally The Plumery some 500+ miles from their home. Every place they called or visited was filled to capacity - no room for Li’l Bird. Their loss became The Plumery’s gain. Li’l Bird traveled in style and with ALL his cages and carriers, ALL his toys and perches, food lasting six months, ALL his meds and veterinary records coming with him.
Needless to say, he’s a wonderful Amazon, eager to engage, show what he knows, and fits in at The Plumery foster house. We do have some work to do for him: he’s a little overweight; we’re adjusting his diet toward better foods; we’ll be monitoring any medical condition that includes the first hint of liver issues. He’ll be visiting one of the veterinarians in The Plumery network, who has already reviewed his records. Li’l Bird is flourishing with all the other parrots nearby. The first time - well, every time - he sees Pepper and Tinkerbell, he just lights up. And they are intrigued with him too. We expect some Amazon chatter to happen soon.

"Anani"
Umbrella Cockatoo
Meet Anani, a beautiful 26-year-old Umbrella Cockatoo with a heart as bright as his snowy white feathers. What makes Anani’s story so special is that, unlike many parrots who experience multiple homes throughout their lives, he has spent all 26 years with a single, loving family. Unfortunately, due to a recent relocation, his family was faced with the heartbreaking reality that they could not bring him along. Wanting only the best for Anani, they made the selfless decision to place him in our care rather than risk him being sold into the parrot market, where his future would be uncertain and possibly unsafe.
Anani is now a semi-permanent resident of The Plumery, where he will receive love, stability, and expert care for the rest of his days. This long-term placement is part of our mission to provide safe alternatives for birds whose families can no longer care for them—a service we proudly offer alongside our upcoming short-term boarding option (stay tuned for more details!).
True to his Umbrella Cockatoo nature, Anani is a bundle of personality. He is sweet, gentle, curious, and remarkably fearless. His trusting nature and adaptable spirit have helped him settle into his foster home, where he now enjoys the company of children and another parrot. It’s always incredible to see how resilient and loving parrots can be, even in the face of major life changes.
We are beyond grateful to Anani’s foster family for welcoming him with open arms and to his original family for making the difficult yet responsible choice to secure him a safe future. Parrots like Anani deserve care and consideration at every stage of their lives, and we are honored to be part of his journey.

"Ember"
Eclectus
Ember is a stunning 6-year-old Eclectus Parrot with a story unlike most. Her journey to The Plumery has been long and winding, and we are honored to provide her with the stability and care she truly deserves.
Ember’s life began in an unfortunate situation—she was part of a backyard breeding and hoarding operation that was eventually raided. Along with many other birds, she was rescued and taken in by a Humane Society shelter. From there, her path took a series of unexpected turns. She was first rehomed to a zoo, then transferred to another, and ultimately found herself at The Charles Paddock Zoo in Atascadero, CA. While the zoo provided excellent care, it became clear after 18 months that Ember was not thriving in that environment. She began plucking her feathers, a common sign of stress in parrots, and it was evident that she needed more human interaction to truly flourish.
The zoo team, recognizing that Ember required a different kind of care, reached out to us after seeing the incredible progress we made with Sparky, another parrot who needed extra attention and a more interactive home. We were more than happy to open our doors to this sweet girl, and she has already begun to show us just how special she is.
In just a few short days, Ember’s personality is shining through. She has a gentle and affectionate nature, eagerly seeking out interactions with people. She is also a true foodie—she loves her fresh fruits, veggies, grains, and pellets, and has made it very clear that walnuts are her absolute favorite treat! With a diet tailored to her needs, a warm and nurturing environment, and plenty of positive human interaction, we are hopeful that she will begin to regrow some of her feathers and reveal the full beauty of her natural plumage.
We are so grateful to The Charles Paddock Zoo for entrusting us with Ember’s care and recognizing that every parrot has unique needs. It’s a reminder that, while zoos can provide excellent homes for many animals, some individuals—especially intelligent, highly social birds like Ember—require a different kind of setting to truly thrive.
We can’t wait to watch Ember’s transformation and help her feel safe, loved, and confident.