GREATER CHICAGO CAGE BIRD SOCIETY

I have been volunteering at the GCCBS shelter for about 3 years now. I ended up adopting one of the parrots that I helped care for too. Parrots can be challenging for people who do not understand their needs and that is why many of them end up at the shelter. The staff strives to find good homes for these parrots by asking people how much they know about parrots and having the person/family visit with the parrot to assure a good match is made. When it comes to a larger parrot, they are the ones who choose the person not the other way around. My Goffin cockatoo Simon picked me and how could I say no.

The GCCBS is a very sacred and important place. These magnificent and intelligent birds of all types receive the shelter and care they need when they need it most. The adoption service and protocols are strict and process driven and this is important as properly paring up a bird with a new home takes careful consideration for the shelter, bird(s) and new adopters.

I have adopted two Sun Conures, Cooper and Piper (the latest) and they immediately became family in our home. They were healthy and non-aggressive and I attribute that to an excellent shelter environment and human care at GCCBS. The staff and volunteers at GCCBS are just wonderful and very welcoming. I so thank them for being there for us (humans and birds)!

Henry K

Sometimes the smallest and/or eldest of animals tend to be overlooked. To find such an organization that cares for a bird ranging in sizes and age is tough. GCCBS and their incredible hearts take in birds in tough situations. They provide warm, clean and a loving environment to help facilitate these wonderful birds into a new home. They care for each bird independently, getting to know their personalities, tending to their healthcare needs and working to rehabilitate. Each volunteer and member embraces the same mission, to be their family until they find their forever family. Members and volunteers work 365 days a year tending to tasks such as maintain a clean environment, feeding and providing medications. They embrace the playtime and socialization with each bird. For those birds in need, members and volunteers qualified have been willing to foster those who need that extra TLC.
This fabulous organization has been a great asset to the communities in the Chicagoland area. GCCBS provides continuing education to those within the communities. Bringing awareness to the not so obvious animal rescue.
The amazing hearts these men and woman have for these birds is immense. I couldn't be more proud to be apart of the GCCBS family.

As a volunteer and donor I have seen the dedication for the birds in their care. Beyond the daily care for 100 plus birds everyday, yes everyday. They provide help for people who have a problem with a bird, going to other towns to help a pet bird that escaped when the temperatures were below freezing. We have 5 volunteers fostering 16+ sick birds that need more care than can be provided at the shelter. Most need medications several times a day. We have an Avian Veterinarian on site monthly to check for the health of the birds, and an Avian Bird Hospital for more intense care, Yearly costing + $20,000 annually This is all from a totally volunteer organization with no paid staff. We could not exist without donations and our dedicated volunteers. (and we need more!). We are at capacity Many more birds need help. Our rent, utilities nd other expenses take our entire budget for a year. We need more space than we have and need to expand for the many birds we cannot help.

I’ve been a volunteer for over a year now and love it! I wasn’t much of a bird person when I first started, but have come to really appreciate their intelligence and affection. Of course I have a few favorites, but they are all beautiful in their own way. The shelter goes above and beyond to make sure they are well taken care of and find them good homes. I hope to continue helping out for a long time. I look forward to my bird days!
Darlene Sherwin

I have been a lover and owner of birds since I was 12. When I moved to Chicago 4 years ago I discovered the rescue and began volunteering. I have made some wonderful friends who share the same goals for the birds and of course found my most recent love ❤️. Sunshine is a double yellow headed Amazon who was surrendered 2 years ago. We quickly bonded and after working with him for 6 months I adopted him and took him home. The rest is history and I love having this 22 year old fellow in my home and in my life.

I volunteer at Greater Chicago because I love parrots. I’ve been coming with my mom for about 8 years. While I don’t come as much as before because of school, I do participate when I’m able. My green check is from the shelter and I am so happy they brought us together.

It has been quite a learning experience working with the birds and the awesome volunteers at the shelter. I started my journey with GCCBS to have my son experience caring for animals, and now I am helping them with many projects.

Three years ago, we promised our young daughter she could finally get a pet -- a bird! I had grown up with parakeets over the years and am allergic to everything with fur.

I had no idea there were animal shelters JUST for birds, and ecstatic to find that GCCBS was relatively close to our home. We went in looking for a parakeet, but the volunteer suggested a cockatiel and took us into the cockatiel room to meet the birds. We did not make a match that day, but on a follow-up visit to meet one cockatiel posted to their website (who already had multiple applications put in for him), the volunteer introduced us to Twinkie. He'd been been found outside and brought to the shelter a month before, and the volunteer knew his personality and thought he'd be a good match. It was true love. After our application and home video, we were approved and brought Twinkie home, where he has been one of the best birds I've ever known! Immediate member of the family, and we're sad for the family who lost him because he was well-loved and has been very loving to us.

They are strict with their policies. Do not be offended they don't take your word that you know birds. They didn't believe me until Twinkie flew up to my shoulder from the volunteer's and I didn't flinch -- not even when he kissed me and whispered in my ear. :) (I kissed him and whispered back!) They have a LOT of parents who come in to get a bird with their kid but who are afraid and/or clueless about birds. They will question why you aren't getting a cage for them that day (b/c I bought one!) because, yes, people don't know birds need cages. They only have the best interests of these *extremely* intelligent creatures at heart, and we appreciate them! They even recommended our new vet when our old one had become disappointing. "If GCCBS says it's true, then we trust them," is our mantra.

They also do bird boarding (or did) and that saved our bacon one time as well. Twinkie loved hanging out with his pals again. HIGHLY RECOMMEND. Adopt a bird. Pre-loved birds are THE BEST!

Bird shelters are an entirely different ballgame than the usual humane societies that have majority dogs and cats. Parrot after parrot is brought to GCCBS because they’re too messy, too loud, too destructive, they aren’t getting enough attention, they’re pulling out their own feathers, they were cheap at a superstore and now the kids don’t want to deal with them, or they’ve outlived their owners. Parrots are essentially still very much wild animals, and you can’t spay and neuter them like a dog or cat to help curb hormonal behavior.
85% of parrots are rehomed within the first 2 years of their lives. EIGHTY FIVE PERCENT!!!
It takes a special person to love a parrot. It takes an army of incredibly special people to love the parrots in a shelter. If you walk through our shelter you’ll find parrots mostly bald, parrots with signs that say “I BITE”, parrots screaming their lungs out when a dog walks by the window. Parrots are not (usually) brought to a shelter for good reasons; some have been locked up for months, some have been shoved in a basement or closet, some have health issues from a lifetime of misguided care and eating only sunflower seeds.
No ordinary person can volunteer at a parrot shelter, and the people who dive into work at GCCBS are nothing less than extraordinary. If you see a volunteer here it is because they LOVE these birds. They devote their days to seeing these unique, complicated, sensitive, intelligent, and sometimes dangerous animals get the care and attention they all so desperately need.
You spend days with tears in your eyes as another owner brings in another bird who hides, terrified, in the corner of their cage. Then you spend days with tears in your eyes because the macaw that has been waiting for 8 years finally is going home to a family.

I cannot say enough good things about the incredible people who volunteer their time at this shelter to improve the lives of these animals that are so very much misunderstood. Behind the mountain there is always another mountain, but they show up ready to try again every day anyway, and the parrots lives are better for them.

I joined the Greater Chicago Bird Cage Society back in 2018, and it gave me a purpose. I do the Administrative work for the shelter, and to be able to walk around, and talk with the birds is just so enlightening and wonderful. Seeing them happy and inquisitive is just so endearing, and to have them remember you is just so delightful!

With just a handful of dedicated volunteer staff, this organization provides shelter and safety for pet birds who have no place else to go. We provide daily care, 365 days a year, to all types of birds, from a tiny finch to large macaws. We also attend to the medical needs of the elderly and handicap birds to improve quality of life. These are the FORGOTTEN Pets...Dog and Cat rescues get much attention, while every year, hundreds of birds pass through this shelter and are placed in qualified, screened home, or are kept safe until a home can be found. We have no funding other than minimal public donations.
We are one of only a few reputable rescues for birds in the Chicago-land area.