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Avian society spreads the word on pet birds

The group is a source for information and advice on the breeding and caring for many species of our feathered friends.

By MICHAEL CANNING
Published July 7, 2006

As a former animal control officer for the town of Hempstead, N.Y., John Scafordi saw a lot of animals in distress. But what ruffles the feathers of the Sun City Center retiree the most is the current state of bird ownership.

"The majority of the birds that are out there - they don't have good homes," he said.

As a member of the Greater Brandon Avian Society, Scafordi can do something about it. The pet bird booster group is the primary, and perhaps only, club of its kind in Hillsborough County. As such it has positioned itself to be the main clearinghouse of information about breeding and caring for pet birds.

As to why so many birds don't have good homes, Scafordi gave the same reasons as many of his fellow society members did at a recent meeting.

People underestimate the time and effort birds require and buy birds that are too big for beginners.

"Some people impulse buy," said Scafordi's wife, Gloria Schroeck.

"And they think birds are like dogs, that they try to please you. A bird is not trying to please you."

"They're like a 3-year-old child, but they'll never grow up," Scafordi said.

Prospective and beleaguered bird owners need to know these things, and more. And that's where the Greater Brandon Avian Society comes in.

But if you want to know more about the society, here's a quick primer in handy field guide format.

Evolution: Formed in Brandon in 1983. Primarily composed of bird breeders, its goals were to preserve and propagate exotic birds, exchange avicultural information, maintain strong blood lines through bird trading, and support charitable aviculture causes.

Longtime member Jean Patterson said membership once peaked around 300, but that gradually decreased after the federal government cracked down on bird importation in the early 1990s.

Membership declined and shifted more toward private bird owners, though its original goals haven't changed.

Now club president Bob Woollard says they have about 40 members.

Behavior: Individually, society members can dote on their birds like the most dedicated dog and cat owners. Society secretary Dell Woollard proudly shows off a photo album of her seven birds at a recent meeting.

Gloria Schroeck and John Scafordi's Sun City Center home has an inside aviary and an outside aviary, several smaller cages, an eight-foot- tall walk-in cage, and a bird shower with beak-operated pull chain.

When Schroeck and Scafordi take road trips, they tow their birds behind their car in a camper trailer. Sonny the cockatiel rides inside Scafordi's shirt for local shopping trips and errands.

Collectively the society meets monthly and hold its biggest fundraiser, Exotic Bird Fair, twice a year. The next one is Sept. 24 at the Manatee Convention Center in Palmetto.

The society also donates money to bird sanctuaries and research on beak and feather diseases.

Habitat: Though it's called the Greater Brandon Avian Society, almost none of the current members live in the Brandon area.

They hail from Lakeland and from all over Hillsborough, Pinellas, Manatee and Sarasota counties.

The group meets monthly at the Ruskin Moose Club, 1212 E Shell Point Road.

Diet: No birdseed for the society meetings. Dedicated hospitality members Bob and Marsha Cargel provide serious spreads.

The most recent was highlighted by homemade chicken and biscuits, augmented with Panera Bread items.

Nesting: Annual membership dues are $15 per person, $20 for a family.

For information about joining the flock, call Bob or Dell Woollard at (813) 645-3610 or Lillian Warren at (813) 634-1856.

[Last modified July 6, 2006, 19:28:54]