There is a parrot overpopulation problem in the United States which is due to excessive breeding, the long life spans of parrots, and behavioral issues that result in rehoming.  Parrots can live 30-100 years depending on species, which means there is little turn over in homes, rescues and sanctuaries, unlike the dog and cat community with animals that live 10-18 years.  

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In addition, parrots are the third most popular pet in the United States after dogs and cats. According to a 2017-2018 study by the U.S. Pet Ownership and Demographic Source Book, the number of households in the U.S. with pet birds was 3,509,032 and the number of birds living in households was 7,538,000.   

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Unfortunately, parrots are not domestic animals, nor are they domesticated.  Parrots are wild animals from other countries that were either imported prior to the enactment of the Wild Bird Conservation Act in 1992, or bred in captivity and only a few generations away from their wild caught relatives.  These birds still have the same needs and desires as their ancestors, which can make them very challenging to live with.   Confining birds to cages most or all of a day, and eliminating their ability to fly, is another contributing factor to their behavioral issues.   Lack of flight leaves them with no means to release their pent-up energy, and leads to anxiety, stress, and numerous behavioral issues including biting.  Sadly, this is why many birds end up being rehomed, and usually more than once in their lifetime.  Those birds that do remain in their homes, many outlive their human caretakers, also leaving them in need of new homes.  Rescues and sanctuaries fill up quickly with long lived animals, thus having to turn birds away due to lack of space in their facilities.  Overpopulation is now resulting in birds being euthanized at animal shelters.  

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It is time we reestablish new guidelines for captive bird care with their needs as the top priority.  We feel that going from the caged bird model to an aviary model is a good place to start.