Rod Villemaire has opened The
Small Bird Rescue and
Retirement Center in Mesa. He
would like to find good homes for
many of the birds. He has an
assortment of parakeets, several
canaries and cockatiels and one
conure. This list is constantly
changing so feel free to contact
him regarding the placement of
any of these birds. His phone
umber is 480-985-2121. His e-mail
address is
smallbirdrescue@juno.com.

or check out his website at

www.smallbirdrescue.org

(a link to his site and e-mail is
below.)

Small Bird Rescue Website

Rod's e-mail

Rod's daughter, Kaylin, age 11,
helps with the birds. She is
pictured here with 3 of the many
parakeets.

Each of the many birds has a
unique and amazing personality.
Below this cockatiel regularly
stands posed showing off its
beautiful wing feathers.

Above- Cockatiel pays a visit to
his outdoor friend.

Left-Cockatiel whistles a tune for
his food.

Above- Beautiful conure. Still a
little timid- but improving.

The birds below are available for
adoption at the Small Bird Rescue
and Retirement Center.

A Fire Tragedy

August 10th 2004, a fire started at the house next door to Delma Dickerman. It
quickly spread to her house. Even though she was home and trying to save the birds,
many died. She had a huge collection of both pet birds and breeders. She lost over
150 of her beloved babies.

Many of the Seedcracker members showed up to help in anyway possible. Their help
and support was greatly appreciated. Several members are still housing some of the
birds. Delma would like to thank each and everyone of them.

Delma has contributed to the website on many occasions. You can find many of her
aritcles and pictures of her birds throughout this site. Below are just a few pictures I
have of her birds.

Delma's Darlings Jazma and
Jordan Survived!!!!!

Sadly, her pet Senegals did not
survive. Danny Bo is show here
with another senegal.

Also, sadly, this picture is in
memory of her beloved Zoey.

I am not sure of the fate of these
birds. Some of them may have
been sold since this picture was
taken. However, all of her young
babies being hand fed at the time
did not make it. This includes 2
Macaws, a Grey, many cockatiel
babies and others.

Einstein, her long time pet Grey
survived. Her pet Timnuhs did not.

Below are just 2 of the e-mails I've
received from Delma since the
tragedy.

Hi Kathy, I don't have everyones address or phone numbers, Will you Please tell
everyone, Thanks for everything, I love the Bird gift, They have been the

sweetest and most thoughtful people. Guess birds make the sweetest people.

I'm doing fine, just real depressed right now. I'll be better when they start to rebuild my
house.

later,

Delma

Kathy, I thought I would share some wonderful news with you and our bird lovers. As
you all know My house was burned down on May 10th. I lost a lot of sweet, loving
pets, But I also had several pet birds on the nest at the time of the fire and was
surprised NONE of them gave up their nest with all the fire, smoke and water going on
around them. I had 3 baby peachface and 2 orangeface hatch DURING the fire,

( their nest completely black from smoke) my first baby Eclectus hatched 11 days
ago, pulled him because I had to move mom and pop to their new location. Baby is
doing fine. Mom Is mad.

Cuddles and Bridget ( my pet Congo Greys) were expecting their second clutch this
year, to hatch any day and I had to move them. I waited till last to move them giving
them as much time as possible. "This I think is amasing," 2 Babies hatached the 28 &
29th. While the second one was only a few hours old we had to move them. I put the
nestbox with babies in the truck with my daughter and her husband, with their cage on
the back of the truck. I put Cuddles and Bridget in a carrier, and took them with me in
another car. They didn't even seem to mind the babies being gone, Cuddles sing and
talked to me all the way home. I thought sure mom wouldn't want anything to do with
the babies after an hour apart. We set up their cage at the new location, I put her box
with the babies in it just where she had it, and put mom and dad in the cage. Gave
them fresh food and water. They stayed out of the nestbox, didn't even look in it for
about another hour, Just about the time I thought I should pull the babies and feed
them, I heard them crying, SO did Bridget, She went into her box and I could hear her
feeding the little ones. The move didn't seem to upset their routine at all.

Mom, Dad and babies are doing just fine. Cuddles just talks and sings as usual.

Its so cute when he looks in the nestbox to ask Bridget "what you doing hun, making
babies?" It cracks me up. Yes, I lost a lot of sweet little pets! But I'm so very Thankful
for the ones that were missed!!

I think the new babies have helped me cope with this situation much better. And all
the birds are adjusting to their location change very well.

I think Cuddles is saying "Mom, Life must go on"

Delma's devastating fire story near the bottom of page

Over five years ago, my son had birthday money in hand as we entered PetSmart.
His

eyes were immediately drawn to a group of cockatiels playing in an open play
area..

They were all handraised babies just as sweet as can be. It looked like one was
not

doing well. Upon further examination, the other birds seemed to be picking on him.

My son was deeply affected by what he was watching. He immediately wanted to

rescue the one from the "bullies". The poor little guy was terribly picked on- having
no

tail and many missing feathers. Agreeing that it would be his own birthday money
and

he would do all the work, I reluctantly agreed.

Sitting at home that night, thinking of names, looking at this pathetic little bird, my
son

suddenly decided that this was his "special needs" bird and he would name him

"Special Eddie", or Eddie for short.(reference to the Special Education)

As it turned out, Eddie was just young and didn't have any special needs, and was
a

perfect pet in every way,- until 2 weeks ago. He has now turned into my "special

needs" bird. I would like to share the story in hopes of preventing the tragedy from

happening to any other birds.

Two weeks ago, I found Eddie laying on the bottom of the aviary with a serious leg

injury. His leg was broken, as were all of the toes. I picked him up and drove with
him

in my hands all the way to the vet. I could feel lifes energy draining from his body.

The doctor was able to save him but not his leg.

I came home and studied the situation and blood trail. After looking at old pictures,
I

determined that he had indeed had a band on that foot and no longer did. It had

apparently become stuck by the door and he struggled until he had freed himself.
The

band being on his leg had cost him his leg.

I am now going to have all of the bands cut off the rest of my birds. It is not worth
the

risk to any of them.

by Kathy Miller

Special Eddie

A story of a band injury

Eddie- Above with the band.

Eddie, today with just the stump.

Update- I have taken my birds to the vet to have their band removed. After discussing
it with him, I have put off the decision for the time being. I would like any other input
on the subject. Eddie is doing remarkably well in just a short time.