How Beak n Wings was created

I want to tell you how Beak n Wings was created. Beak n Wings was created January 1, 1999, We had some hiccups throughout the years, this is to be expected. Let me back up several years first.

I received a Cockatiel for Christmas one year, then I found out about a "bird fair". I also bought a Cockatiel from the bird fair. Mind you, I am just now getting into the bird world. I took the tiel home, set him up. I used this 2nd tiels help later.

I joined a bird club "BERD" Ended up becoming the editor of their newsletter, later I found out about another organization (leaving un-named), I also became their newsletter editor. So here I am editing for 2 groups at the same time, challenging to say the lease.

Soon, I found out about breeding birds. Well I went from 2 birds to 150 birds. Yes I know, I was crazy. Anyway, I was breeding Cockatiels, Conures (green cheeked, Maroon bellies), Love Birds, Parakeets, Bourkes Parakeets. Well the babies started coming, 300 my first year. I was really crazy, I know. Added to the problem, I just didn't know it at the time. Side note. Always watch who you buy birds from, make sure they are the age they tell you they are. Some of the breeding birds I got, started dying. The lady who sold them to me started to tell people I am killing birds. Well not really. Yes some had died, but finding out why. She sold me her old stock, I was told that none of them were over 2 years old. NOT TRUE. When reading the leg bands, the birds were 8-12 years old. She sold me old birds knowing they didn't have long to live. Yet it didn't stop her from telling people to not sell me birds, because I kill them.

Always ask to read the leg band on the bird. If they do not have one, ask them why not. They should be banding the birds (it's also the law). NO BAND, walk away. Some breeders are very dishonest (some) they have no band, so they sell their older birds, passing them off as young birds.

anyway. lets move forward. BERD closed down. I still do not know why the founder of this club disliked me so badly. She would really never talk to me, but she loved to talk smack about me, not true statements at all, she didn't really even know who I was. I did see some issues that happen in the group. Anyway, after BERD was dissolved, I went on over to the other organization, I mentioned. WOW. The issues I found in this group was un-real. So many of them would smile to your face, and try to shoot you in the back. VERY bad place. Yet I stayed with it, learning what NOT to do. OH yes, I have met some VERY good people, became GREAT friends. I had some bird people watching my back.

I went to another bird fair later on, met one lady, (not knowing we were going to be great friends) She told me "I am sorry to hear that you are sick", I was like, I am not sick, if I am, I am not aware of it. Someone again started to tell un truths. OK back to how it all began.

After seeing all of the issues in the 2nd organization, I decided to start one myself. It was called "Pet Bird Club" I started it January 1, 1998. The people, wow, I did not really know how to read people back then, I learned the hard way how to read people, and who is good and who is bad. Lesson learned.

Anyway, after the start of Pet Bird Club. for some reason (they all wanted control) they all decided to attack me, took me to court, "stocking", yet I attended a group sponsored event at a pet store, and I was the president at the time. How do you stock being the president.

After all that mess, I got out of "Pet Bird Club". Decided to try it one more time. So on January 1, 1999 I started Beak n Wings. We have been growing ever since. Our highest number of members was 350 members, that was just before Covid.

We have had some very wonderful, caring members through the years, currently we have some very good members, volunteers. They truly care about the well being of the birds.

When I opened Beak n Wings, we were a "pet bird club", which until 2003 when we evolved into a rescue/adoption and educational group. We filed in 2004 for our 501, we received it in 2005. We continue to grow.

We obtained our first real building almost 11 years ago, we are currently in the same building. We are slowly going back into the public to reach more people, help educate, and to help find homes for the birds we have in the program. You can see more about us on the history page.

I hope this helps you understand how Beak n Wings came about. We hope to be around for many more years.

Thank you for reading our story.

Dean