Illawarra Parrot Club President Stan Michalopoulos overcame his childhood fear and now has many birds. Photo: Keeli Royle.
A passion for birds has transformed into a vital rescue mission for Stan Michalopoulos, who is set to officially launch SOS Illawarra Bird Sanctuary and Rescue in Unanderra on Saturday (26 July).
Terrified of anything that could fly growing up, he went on to work with WIRES, sell budgies at markets and now operates the successful Unanderra pet store Atlantis Pets and is president of the Illawarra Parrot Club.
However, after dealing with large numbers of surrendered and neglected birds, he’s now established non-profit organisation SOS Illawarra Bird Sanctuary and Rescue dedicated to providing a safe haven for birds.
In just two weeks, the sanctuary has already taken in more than 40 birds, with its mission to rehome the birds wherever possible or offer them a colony environment to live out their lives.
Stan said he had long bred birds and other animals such as guinea pigs and mice, due to wanting to know where the animals they sold came from.
“I’m on property with birds and I’m in a few people’s wills for their animals,” he said.
“If it doesn’t work out with someone’s pet, they bring it to us, because we have a no resell policy.
“Once an animal comes into our care and gets surrendered, it goes, if we can, into a colony so they can live out their lives with their own kind.”
He said the surrendered birds often came from pet stores or the public that sold birds without educating the buyer.
“Someone cares for it for a couple months, and they go, ‘Oh no, it’s not for me. It’s too messy’ and then they sell it on Gumtree,” he said.
“The people that buy it then say, ‘Oh no, it’s too loud. It’s waking up the household early in the morning’.
“So the birds just go from home to home. That is what I wanted to stop.”
Stan spent $60,000 to build enclosures, but found he was constantly dipping into his family’s account to look after the birds, not to mention the seven-day commitment on top of his business and family.
He said customers and staff suggested he start a non-profit organisation, which he has now formalised and runs at the same location as Atlantis Pets due to already having his hands full at home with 1000 parrots and two adopted children.
It has received strong support so far, with Atlantis Pets already having a good name for itself and being known for bird boarding.
Birds surrendered to SOS Illawarra Bird Sanctuary and Rescue. Photo: Supplied.
“We’re already equipped with IC units and things like that here,” he said.
“Everyone knows my background and what I do with charity work, so they’ve been willing to support us.
“We get calls from all over Australia asking for support. I like it because it means people do want to learn and they’re trying to do the right thing.”
Stan said there was a lot involved with the charity, from isolating and testing high-risk birds like cockatoos, corellas and lorikeets that might be carrying beak and feather disease through to providing medical care to birds.
He said along with colonising birds, the sanctuary also offered surrendered birds for adoption.
“I’ve found myself taking a step back from breeding and focusing more on rehoming from the sanctuary, which I’m actually enjoying even more,” he said.
“I’ve noticed a lot of the birds, like the eclectus parrot, we’re getting a lot of those in, and we got so many last year. So I colonised them, and actually took nest boxes out, so I wouldn’t add to the problem.
“I’m learning as I go that people are not educated and I don’t want to add to it.
“Although I’m still going to breed, I’ve reduced it by 90 per cent in one year.”
He said one of the issues was people weren’t aware that birds could live for a long time if on the right diet, often outliving their owners.
Due to that, there was a careful screening process to ensure each bird found the right home, whether bred in-house or adopted.
He also works to educate buyers on bird health, dietary requirements and housing right through to little things like mirrors in cages being a no-no.
Visitors to the upcoming grand opening event can expect giveaways, sale tables, children’s activities, food, photos with the macaws, and the opportunity to meet some of the sanctuary’s rescued birds up for adoption, with all profits going to the sanctuary.
It’s also an opportunity for the public to learn more about the rescue initiative.
Outside the event, community members can support the sanctuary through donations, including food, supplies, or monetary contributions.
SOS Illawarra Bird Sanctuary and Rescue is located at Atlantis Pets store at Unit 36, 10-12 Sylvester Avenue in Unanderra.
