Wednesday 30 June 2004
Surrey/North Delta Leader
by Paula Carlson, Staff Reporter

Greyhaven is looking for bigger and better space for its feathered friends

THE FEATHERED RESIDENTS of Greyhaven Exotic Bird Sanctuary are in search of new nesting grounds.

The sanctuary, located at 4490 - 152nd Street and currently home to nearly 60 budgies, conures, cockatiels and lovebirds, needs a bigger and better space.

The money has been secured (thanks to a $15,000 grant from the B.C. Gaming Commission), and now director Cindy Koch is seeking land or a building suitable to house the birds.

"We really need something that has power and water already there," she says of land requirements. In that case, Greyhaven would use the grant money to purchase one or two mobile units to set up on-site.

"Or, the funds may be able to renovate an existing building, which would need to be a minimum of 2,000 square feet," Koch says.

Greyhaven rescues, rehabilitates and cares for injured, orphaned, abandoned, or neglected exotic birds. It runs foster care and adoption programs, and educates children and the general public about keeping exotic birds as pets.

With more exotic birds entering the pet marketplace, and due to their lengthy life spans - in some species, up to 100 years - Koch anticipates the need for the services Greyhaven offers will only increase.

That means more volunteers are needed as well, to feed clean and provide companionship for the birds.

Volunteers must be able to commit to two four-hour shifts a month, during the week or on weekends.