Dr. Anne McDonald, owner of the Night Owl Bird Hospital, recently received the Canadian Veterinary Medical Association’s Humane Award. Dr. McDonald along with the Greyhaven Exotic Bird Sanctuary, took over the care of almost 600 parrots in May 2016 after the death of Wendy Huntbatch, the founder of the World Parrot Refuge in Coombs, B.C. Dr. McDonald and Greyhaven were involved in the physical removal of the birds, their medical assessment and testing, finding relocation facilities, and providing necessary medical and everyday care. Many of the birds had health issues, some more severe than others, with over 100 small and large birds being hospitalized for the first few months. Currently, only about 160 birds of the 600 rescued still require placements.

To recognize her work and efforts in avian care, Mark Hagen, Director of the Hagen Avicultural Research Institute (hari.ca), is giving Dr. McDonald a reprint (#42 of 50 copies made) of Dr Anton Reichenow’s book Vogelbilder aus Fernen Zonen: Abbildungen und Beschreibungen der Papageien, as-well-as 33 frameable acid-free reprints of the original hand-drawn parrot illustrations (illustrated by Gustav Mützel, 1839–1893).

Dr Anton Reichenow (1847-1941), a German zoologist and ornithologist who specialized in African birds. Reichenow, who made major contributions to ornithology during a very active 50-year career, travelled extensively to exotic places and discovered many new species. He has seven bird species named after him. The original book includes 33 hand-drawn family portraits of many parrot species. The detailed colour renditions were drawn by wildlife artist Gustav Mützel.

First published in 1878, there are not many original copies left. Mark had 50 copies reprinted and have been given out to parrot conservation groups and Veterinarians for their dedication to parrots.

To help the WPR birds visit: Donate to help WPR birds.

Original news release.