Birdlove began in Columbia, South Carolina in 1996, as friends and even strangers began asking Jo Gore and Rick McGee to take in their birds. Jo and Rick, now co-directors of Birdlove never dreamed the numbers of unwanted birds would reach such epidemic proportions. Although the name implies sanctuary, the policy is to foster/adopt out adoptable birds, attempt to rehabilitate those we can, and give the unadoptables a permanent sanctuary.
Birdlove Sanctuary attained 501(c)(3) status in March 2001. In addition to the co-directors, the Board of Directors includes two avian veterinarians, and one avian enthusiast who also volunteered with Jo in the bird department at the Riverbanks Zoo & Gardens. It is the consensus of this group that Birdlove will limit its intake of birds to 40-50 birds considering the spatial limitations, location and available personnel. They presently have 45 birds and space and time are becoming critical. Only birds in crisis are currently being accepted.
Employees and volunteers: Trying not to put square pegs into round holes, creative volunteers make toys and posters for educational programs; nurturers cuddle, bathe and play with birds; energetic folks clean, shop and prepare food; very bird-educated staffers repair cages and help with rehab and our webmasters work on keeping our website interesting, informative and updated.
Diets are pellet-based with two feedings a day of varied fruits, veggies, pastas, beans, bird bread, brown rice & sprouts. A seed/nut mix is also fed daily. And, of course, all our residents get annual well-bird checkups.
Our goal is to provide more educational programs for our community in the hope that better education of owners will allow more birds to remain in their homes.
We can be contacted by sending email to the address below:
