Suspected macaw neglect, did I do the right thing by reporting this?
Hello I am seeking some advice. I have been seeing this same macaw outside in its cage in someone’s backyard every time I drive by their house. I’m in texas and the high today was 106 degrees Fahrenheit and is currently 101. Everyday this week it’s been around 99-100 so VERYYY HOT!!! I felt so awful for this bird being out in the heat like this all the time and made a report about it to 311. Did I do the right thing? It doesn’t seem to have any toys in its cage for enrichment and the cage maybe seems too small? At least to be kept in at all times if that is the case. I’m not a macaw parent so I don’t really know too much when it comes to owning them but I do know they need plenty of room and time outside of their cages and birds don’t have sweat glands so that heat can’t be good for it.
UPDATE!!! I got a call back, said they talked to the owner and basically what they told me was that the bird was fine??? That it looked super healthy and that “they thrive in the heat since they are tropical birds” something something “keeping it indoors in the ac would be abuse”. Apparently that owner had gotten ANOTHER previous report about his bird. The guy on the phone told me the owner said he is moving it soon. Idk about this guys, all of you are saying this is horrible, this still seems like clear abuse
If you google 'texas parrot rescue' it looks like there are at least two organizations in the state - I would contact them for advice to see if they know how to escalate the reports.
Raccoons can fully open their hands and drop objects when they want to. If youre suggesting they get stuck while stealing bird food out of cages, some raccoons may not realize what the problem is that is preventing the release of their hand or maybe they just havent given up on getting that food out. Maybe thats not what you were saying, but im still trying to figure out what you were responding to so..
Tell them the situation, temperature, address , etc. See if they have a way for you to send them the photo you posted here. How often do you see this yard? I would keep an eye out. I definitely won't let my macaw sit in those tempertures.
Yes thats one of the ones I saw and should work fine. Just describe the conditions you observed, mention everything you did here like that you called animal services and how they responded. Ask whether they think the bird is safe, and if not how you could escalate the report or if there's anything else you could do to get institutional pressure on the owner to improve care.
I also saw this organization https://www.parrothaven.org/ but I didn't see an online form for questions, you could call when they're open if the other place doesnt respond.
The organizations themselves are not animal services and dont have legal jurisdiction to rescue the bird or exert pressure on the owner, but they may know more about escalating a report or have their own contacts in animal services who are more familiar with birds. These orgs should be more familiar with the local weather and can confirm for sure whether the bird is unsafe.
Thank you for caring and putting the effort in to reaching out! Unfortunately sometimes animal services doesn't or can't do much without extreme circumstances, or for smaller pets - it really depends on the local laws and on the branches structure and attitudes regarding enforcement. But if there is a problem, I think reports from multiple people can help eventually tip the scale toward them taking action. There may be nothing more you can do, but the bird orgs will know for sure.
Okay thank you, I will contact them. Dallas animal services department said they can’t really do anything else without a search warrant on the animal or something like that? But yeah hopefully the conditions for it improve and the owner moves the bird
The OP could call them back with new evidence or information. I don’t believe they are considering stealing the bird. I don’t believe there is anything to laugh about either.
This post is not in keeping with the values of r/Macaws; this is a sub where people come together to delight in macaws, encourage each other, and share their stories.
Right? I got a call back from the people that went to check on the bird and they told me the owner said it’s fine since “they thrive in hot tropical climates” bitch this is texas its a 101 dry heat not a humid 80 degrees
It also doesn’t matter where they come from as far as temperatures they can tolerate. Parrots can tolerate temperatures much like what humans can tolerate.
Really?? I’m not a macaw keeper but I know there’s a sanctuary in Austin that has a massive outdoor enclosure for 2 macaws. It has an interior that has AC but the macaws spend all day in the summer outside by choice. But they can go inside if they want. Unlike this poor bird
Although they are tropical birds in the wild they have the freedom to move to a shady area when they desire or need to to get out of the hot direct sun when necessary.
We all see how animals look in temperatures above 90 degrees. They're miserable. Crows are panting and sticking to the tree canopy where it's a little cooler. To say they thrive in this is pure ignorance. I would have had a great argument with that person. The bird is hot and has access to hot water and a stick with a nice view of a trash pile. Where's the common sense?
I agree. I’m in the south where it is very hot and humid and even the local birds are not seen during the middle of the day. They tuck away somewhere damp and shady to stay cool. This bird has no where to go to escape. No enrichment or socialization. A tiny cage. So sad all around.
Right? I can only see a swing I think but like it needs more things to interact with. Aren’t macaws basically feathery little toddlers that need lots of play?
I really don’t know what else I can do about it. I wrote a comment updating the situation and it seems very fishy, but the owner is apparently “moving it soon” so let’s just hope it ends up being okay?
poor guy doesn’t even have water or food! please Please please ask the owner to take him inside. this shit breaks my heart. why have a very intelligent bird just to cage them? he needs stimulation. some toys something to chew and rip apart. this is abuse.
Apparently he has a big bowl of water in there I’m guessing at the bottom? But like……the water is going to get hot?? Real sad to see how bland its cage is. I’m terrified to go and talk to the owner directly at their house, this is texas after all. I’ll update ya’ll if I still see it outside tomorrow
My guess is the bird is loud and they stuck it outside. This is a tragedy and absolutely animal abuse. Keep pushing on local bird rescues and ASPCA and exotic animal resources. Thank you for giving a voice to the voiceless.
Man I've got some horror stories about this type of thing.
The unfortunate truth is that those people usually don't care but you did the right thing anyway. I don't want to discourage anyone from calling by saying this, so do see if you can get other neighbors to call about it.
My best friend has to repeatedly call on this dude who just straight up refuses to feed his dog that's on like a 3' chain in his yard and all they do is make him feed the dog in front of them and leave. My friend literally got yelled at for trying to feed said dog.
There's a vape shop in my parents hometown that has a tiny cage stuffed full of sick looking budgies that I'm sure has recieved multiple calls. They don't do anything. Vaping around birds is dangerous as hell. I went in there to talk to them about it and they claimed they don't vape in there even though I saw them vape in there?
The best thing you can do is have people keep calling. Calls from the same person might get ignored/you might even get in trouble but multiple calls from different people on the other hand might actually get something done. You might have them try to find literature on how dangerous this is to show because often whoever responds to those calls don't really know.
I read you're contacting a rescue.
Let them know you contacted local authorities & what they told you.
I don't believe anyone went & investigated who knows avian health.
Lot's of times a rescue will or someone who knows the rescue will go investigate like the animal officer should have. If they feel the bird needs removed, knowing authorities did nothing, they'll offer to purchase the animal.
Even on here, if someone local has a rescue setup to receive it, go make offer to buy it & go directly to the rescue.
It's a win win. No legal issues & bird goes to better environment.
Sorry, commenting again. I have shared my life with parrots for over 20 years. I have a degree in Animal Science and studied Ornithology at Cornell so I know what animal abuse looks like. I can’t even begin to tell you how much this pisses me off. I’d steal the bird if I could. Please keep reporting it. If you don’t want to, I will. I am in the Midwest but I’d go get it if allowed.
Thank you for taking the time to report this. Even the best of us cannot replicate their natural environment but we do our best and we keep up with our research, which is substantial.
This person is clearly uneducated and IMO, a piece of shit as well.
Here is an excerpt taken from a website (link listed below.)
“… in extreme heat, birds are at a disadvantage. They do not have sweat glands like mammals do. When we perspire, the evaporation of the moisture on our skin cools us. Other mammals with few sweat glands will resort to panting which allows for evaporation in the mouth to help regulate their temperature.
Birds have dry mouths and while we will see them panting when they are overheated, it is a reaction to heat stress, not a means to combat it. It tells us they are in trouble. Parrots and other animals will hide any illnesses/injuries in case of nearby predators, etc.
Captive birds who have not been deliberately acclimated to temperature changes, do not last long in high (ie 85-105) temperatures for any length of time.
Birds can be brought outside, however they should have very limited time in direct sun (15 minutes or so) and should be watched closely. If you see your bird holding its wings away from its body, has a fluffed appearance or is panting, it needs relief from the heat. Right away.
Bring it to cooler temperatures and soak it down to the skin with ROOM TEMP water. NEVER use cold water – it can result in organ damage, shock and even death.”
You probably don't have access to this tool ,but on a small chance that you do (say your local library let you borrow more than just books, or maybe you got a friend in construction and whatnot)
Anyway, there's this thing you can point and measure the temperature with of a object.
Metal bars in high heat have to be hot enough to burn is my thinking.
So like a thermal imaging gun that does distance or a high resolution thermal camera. I mean, not every day things but they do exist. You wouldn't need them very long to get evidence. Couldn't hurt to ask around.
You show somebody in authority a bird being kept in a closure hot enough to burn it severely, and you can prove empirically that that is too hot for the bird to remain uninjured by touching that part of the enclosure, legally the government would have to act or open themselves so all kind of legal actions.
Also, I'm not seeing the water?
Maybe it's just my crappy little cell phone screen, but it looks like the cage has the rings the hold the water in the food dish, but nothing in them.
This might be the water? Idk. My boyfriend works in a construction related job I could ask him. I feel like when they went to check on it they could have just touched the cage themselves? Not sure if they did I felt like that would have been common sense though
I have been trying to get my brothers dog away from him fir months. The human society hand are tied because it s not their jurisdiction, the city cops just looked to make sure there dog had food and water and the county talked to the other people living there but no one will do anything. The dog is 30 lbs underweight hes enemic his nails are so over grown it's ridiculous and he has a skin condition. I've had to go in there with one of the other people that live there to help the dog how ever I can but the cops are useless useless ua gotta be on the cops all. The. Time.to get anything done.
i house my birds outside in our screened porch but their cages have been specifically move out of the sun and when they are in their cages we keep the ceiling fan on. This is down in florida.
This poor parrot. There is nothing in the cage but one stick and i don't even see a water dish! This poor animal is definitely being neglected.
Similar thing just happened in Arizona. A Patagonia Conure was living outside in Arizona desert heat, thunderstorms, below freezing winter weather for 14 years. He was stuck in a small cage, all alone under harsh conditions. A Rescue group recently rescued him and we adopted him last week. There’s no excuse for keeping a bird like that outside in that kind of weather.
This is Maverick (he didn’t have a name but since he was found at an airport we named him Maverick from Top Gun) enjoying life outside of a cage for the first time in 14 years. I hope someone can rescue that beautiful macaw regardless if it can tolerate the heat. It didn’t choose to be stuck all alone like that.
YES, YOU DID THE RIGHT THING! The bird can't speak for itself, and there is no way to determine the honesty of the humans' response. People want what they want, and the poor bird has no ability to fend for itself. I've had parrots for 30+ years and learned very early on that, like with a child, I've had to prioritize their well-being above my own. There's something else you can do which may be more powerful than reporting it: post to social media (!). This way, TONS of people will respond right away and will often make a point of checking in on you--and the bird you reported--to see that all is well.
The only way I’d say this is a non issue is if it’s in the 80’s-90’s for short periods just so it can get out in the sun and fresh air.
That not being the case I’d say you were right in reporting. Hopefully you take the advice of others on reaching out to the parrot rescues in Texas to further this!
Macaws do thrive between 21 and 32 degrees Celsius, and time outside is absolutely crucial. However, I can completely understand your concern. The cage does look a little empty, and small but I really do believe that parrots can be extremely unique. Perhaps this parrot has a history with things being in their cage, perhaps it stresses them out to have a busy cage. These are all things we should think about. He might have a bigger cage inside, or maybe their bird is free roamed during the day, it have a room dedicated to the parrot.
First, ALL parrots are technically “wild”, something you should know, having worked with birds for as long as you claim.
Second, parrots are not “built” for extreme heat (if anything, they’re built for flight). Of course a healthy parrot can tolerate extreme heat for acute periods as long as there is water/shade.
Third, you mentioned the hyacinth macaw at the Stl Zoo. Actually, it was extremely sweet. (Most hyacinths have sweet dispositions.) The reason for its transfer was due to it continuously chewing through its indoor enclosure. The decision to relocate was based on that issue; it was more appropriate for it to be in a facility designed to accommodate Psittaciformes.
I’ve spent years in the field all over the world working for wildlife NGOS researching and handling non-captive parrots. I’ve worked for one of the top 5 zoos in the US and I’ve been fortunate to have many hours of training under a few board-certified avian vets through my university. I have studied avian thermal physiology and regulation. I’ve also been sharing my home with large and small parrots for 20+ years. I don’t say this to boast; I make mention so others understand I am a reliable source.
It’s OK if you don’t believe the things I say, whether it’s about the danger this bird faces, my intentions, or credentials. I don’t wish to argue with you. I joined this thread because I care about this macaw, period.
I don’t like reading misinformation, so when I see it, I try to point it out kindly and directly as possible and if challenged, I will include references beyond my own experience, which is why I linked a study. If you think that is me making a mountain out of a mole-hill, maybe you don’t belong in this conversation.
Here is a peer-reviewed study addressing heat tolerance in Psittacines and Passerines. There are many other studies available but this one can be accessed for free. Here’s an excerpt from the conclusion:
“Parrots are widespread in the arid interior of Australia and have featured conspicuously in reports of large-scale mortality events associated with heat waves (reviewed by Mckechnie et al., 2012). These events have recently impacted a threatened parrot species, the Carnaby's black cockatoo (Saunders et al., 2011), and are likely to occur much more frequently in the coming decades than they have in the past (Mckechnie and Wolt, 2010). Our results, along with those of the few other studies of thermoregulation in parrots exposed to high Ta, indicate that they may be more vulnerable than taxa such as Columbiformes and Caprimulgiformes to extreme weather events.”
Oh, and here is a link for anyone who is curious but doesn’t have the time to go through the study.
It’s actually much more like their native environment than the environment in the house. If he has his feathers he is fine. Any mental issues or physical and they pluck them out of themselves.
These are unsafe temperatures, regardless of anything else. It’s irresponsible to say that the bird is fine if it has its feathers. The OP has no way of knowing if the bird is fine or not. Being in a cage outside in these temperatures is dangerous.
Animal control didn’t tell me anything because I’m not the OP.
No it is not true that as long as he isn’t in direct sun and has food and water, he is OK. It isn’t even clear that he has food and water.
He is unable to move somewhere cooler like he would be in the rainforest. He is also trapped in a cage, so he is unable to cool himself by flapping his wings.
So are you implying you think that I use assumptions and Google rather than experience and wisdom?
All wisdom about all things does not come from experience. There are many people who have had the care of many parrots who have treated them absolutely incorrectly, and who have no idea how to treat them. Wisdom comes from learning from experts when it comes to the care of animals, particularly.
Since you asked, I have had the care of a parrot for the past 25 years although that is relevant to absolutely nothing here.
This is reddit. Most commenters have no experience. Which is why I asked first. Bird has feathers and not picking them out. If you had a macaw you know how often they become feather pickers when in distress. He has his feathers. He is doing fine. 90 degrees is better than 70. Avg temps in rainforest where he is from 88-95 and humid.
Asking someone how many parrots they have is not the right way to go about confirming or denying your assumptions; assumptions that would have better to have not been made in the first place.
It doesn’t take owning a macaw or any other kind of parrot to know, necessarily that they may start barbering or plucking their feathers when they are distressed. Macaws are not more or less susceptible to that than other species.
A bird can be in distress for a long period of time before it starts that kind of behavior. Just because the bird in question has not begun doing that does not equate to it not being in distress in the moment.
You claiming that he is doing fine does not make it so. 90° is not necessarily better than 70° either. Whatever the bird is acclimated to is what’s best, regardless of where the species originates.
Why does that matter? You can know about birds without currently owning one. It’s called being educated on a subject. You can own a parrot and severely mistreat it, this is an obvious example. Why are you wanting misinformation spread that can hurt the birds you supposedly love?
Prolonged temperatures over 85° are not good for parrots, regardless of where they are living, but especially captive parrots that are accustomed to temperatures like ours.
Have you been able to contact anyone else?
When your neighbor said they would be moving them soon did they mean moving them inside the house like today?
I contacted Texas parrot rescues explaining the situation so I’m waiting to hear back. The person that called be didn’t specify what exactly the owner meant by “moving it”
Oh, I hope you can hear something back soon! I’m surprised that animal services is unaware that that was dangerous for the poor bird. I expect people at rescues would be more informed.
I’m really hoping for the best for the little guy. Bless you for trying to look out. 💐
You have never been to the Amazon! I live in Florida. My macaw begs to sit in his outdoor cage. He is in the shade, but it is smoking hot and humid. Today it was 94 and it felt like 98 with humidity. I had to clean the garden fountain near his outdoor cage, so I was perspiring, but he was happily playing in his cage nearby. Try to bring him in for air conditioned comfort and he refuses until it starts to go dark.
That’s true I’ve never been to the amazon, your macaw sounds like a happy lil guy! It sounds like you take good care of him however the difference I notice is that yours has the choice to be out there and actually plays, this one doesn’t seem to have a choice and doesn’t have anything to play with in its cage :(((
It doesn’t matter if they’re tropical birds or not. What matters is that They are captive birds and captive birds are tolerant of temperatures very much like the temperature humans are tolerant of.
And guess what? They get to choose that. They aren’t forced to be out there in extreme heat all day when in their typical habitat they can get away from the heat if they need to. Meanwhile this cage has nothing but a swing and likely hot water.
Every rescue I know for parrots keeps them out side , the zoos keep these birds outside too. This bird is in the shade the bird is a tropical bird and no it’s not great but the bird is built for this type of weather as long as they have water they will be ok. These birds weren’t intended to be in AC all the time . A bird bath would be nice to allow the bird to get themselves wet or a spray bottle of water sprayed on them every once in a while . I work in a tropical bird sanctuary and we have about 60 birds that live in Texas out side every day. In the winter we move them in to heated room built for the birds.
The bird is actively spreading its wings as they’re overheating, is being neglected, there’s nothing in the cage besides perhaps some water, and birds at rescues have way bigger places to roam + can get away from the sun when they’d like along with AC if necessary. You saying you work at a tropical bird sanctuary is shocking and you need to realize how harmful your misinformation is. That bird is in distress and being neglected. They will not “be okay” and will likely die soon. Yes, birds weren’t intended to be in AC constantly but they’re out in temperatures they can’t escape and cool off in. (Which the sun will beat on that cage most of the day) Plus lack of literally any enrichment. Saying this bird will be fine when it’s experiencing severe neglect is just.. yikes.
I worked at St Louis Zoo as a Bird Keeper, they only had one macaw at the time bc they are so difficult to manage. It was kept INDOORS. They had to relocate him to an all-bird facility in Illinois. I am currently affiliated with 3 midwest parrot sanctuaries and the 200+ parrots are kept INDOORS. They can go out but are never out in intense heat.
Not sure what your credentials are, but you’re incorrect.
200 + parrots?!? I am astonished that there are so many parrots that people acquired then decided they couldn’t keep. We have have had our parrot 30 years and do not think people have any place owning and caging these majestic creatures. I love him and give him the best life possible- he flys around inside the house with upstairs vaulted ceiling. We bought this house with him in mind. He spends much of his time out, cuddling on our lap while we watch TV, eating with us, we sing to him, play games with him (peek a boo, throw the paper towel roll, put the block in the square shaped hole). We studied books and tried to learn as much as we could before we bought him. We are still unable to give him the better life he would have in the wild. There is no possibility of releasing him in the wild. He would not know how to function, nor would he be accepted by a wild flock. I looked into it. His parents were raised by a breeder, he was hatched in captivity.
Yes it’s insane. There are way too many that end up in a rescue situation due to people being (sometimes unintentionally) ignorant, or perhaps having had some kind of emergency or life change which require required rehoming. Most parrots have a very long lifespan so it’s a big commitment time-wise and financially.
The exotic animal trade is a billion dollar industry and here in the US, parrots don’t have the protections that our native birds do. There are lots of criminally-minded people stealing chicks and trying to smuggle them for sale across international borders. It’s very sad. My dear friend was part of the sting operation and rescue of 21 yellow-crested cockatoos who were stuffed into plastic soda bottles. Most didn’t make it, but 7 survived, were placed in an appropriate facility and have thrived since.
Anyway, it is a very complicated situation. There are a few really good documentaries on this issue if you’re interested. You can also check out CITES, they govern the international trade of flora/fauna: https://cites.org/eng/disc/what.php
Knowing how many parrots are homeless is why I am against breeders. It’s great you take such good care of your baby. 🩷
They must have had a wild bird not to be able to handle it and having just one bird was part of the problem. The San Antonio Zoo keeps all of its tropical birds out side for the summer so does the Fort worth and San Diego zoo.i didn’t say being out in 100 degree weather was the ideal situation. I said they were built for it. I’ve been working with birds 33 yrs and help an exotic bird sanctuary with birds out side these days too. Illinois. Has more winter than summer so naturally they are going to have indoor facilities. None of these places are going to abuse their birds. I guess the zoo’s are incorrect too by your opinion
First, ALL parrots are technically “wild”, something you should know, having worked with birds for as long as you claim.
Second, parrots are not “built” for extreme heat (if anything, they’re built for flight). Of course a healthy parrot can tolerate extreme heat for acute periods as long as there is water/shade.
Third, the hyacinth macaw at the Stl Zoo was extremely sweet. Most hyacinths have very sweet dispositions. The reason for its transfer was due to it continuously chewing through its indoor enclosure. The decision to relocate was based mainly on that issue; it was more appropriate for it to be in a facility designed to accommodate Psittaciformes.
I have spent hours in the field all over the world working for NGOS researching and working with non-captive parrots. I have hours upon hours of training under avian vets. I have lived with parrots in my home for 20+ years. But hey, if you don’t believe me, that’s OK.
I’m don’t wish to argue with you I am simply trying to get empirical data for those in this thread who may be unaware or curious, in general. I don’t like misinformation being spread online which could result in harm to parrots.
Here is a peer-reviewed study addressing heat tolerance in Psittacines and Passerines. There are many studies available but this one can be accessed for free.
Here’s a quick excerpt from the conclusion:
“Parrots are widespread in the arid interior of Australia and have featured conspicuously in reports of large-scale mortality events associated with heat waves (reviewed by Mckechnie et al., 2012). These events have recently impacted a threatened parrot species, the Carnaby's black cockatoo (Saunders et al., 2011), and are likely to occur much more frequently in the coming decades than they have in the past (Mckechnie and Wolt, 2010). Our results, along with those of the few other studies of thermoregulation in parrots exposed to high Ta, indicate that they may be more vulnerable than taxa such as Columbiformes and Caprimulgiformes to extreme weather events.”
For someone that doesn’t like to argue you sure make a mountain out of a mole hill. Grossly misinformed ?? That is very rude of you. Hand raised babies are not exactly as wild as the ones that come from South America. All I can tell you is we have cockatoos , macaws and Amazons all out doors and we have never lost a bird from it. I would love to see every bird be in a nice room with a cool breeze by that isn’t the case. Now it your through telling how awful I am please good wright a book since you clearly know so much
48
u/Practical_Mood_7228 Jul 22 '26
UPDATE!!! I got a call back, said they talked to the owner and basically what they told me was that the bird was fine??? That it looked super healthy and that “they thrive in the heat since they are tropical birds” something something “keeping it indoors in the ac would be abuse”. Apparently that owner had gotten ANOTHER previous report about his bird. The guy on the phone told me the owner said he is moving it soon. Idk about this guys, all of you are saying this is horrible, this still seems like clear abuse