Exotic Birds Rescued

DAMASCUS, Md. (WUSA) -- They were living in what's described by witnesses as "deplorable conditions." Now, dozens of exotic birds, 81 in all, are recovering after being rescued from a breeder's home in Montgomery County.

Brian Wilson of the Wilson Parrot Foundation got the call for help over the weekend. When he went to the home he says the stench was so bad, he wished he were wearing a mask. He say the birds cages were covered in bird droppings. And their water dishes and the carpet in the home were covered in mold.

It's unclear if the owner of the birds will face any charges. Wilson says he appeared to genuinely love the birds but became "overwhelmed."

Now Wilson and his crew of volunteers are trying to rehab the exotic birds at his sanctuary in Damascus. They had already been caring for 41 rescued birds so the additional menagerie is posing quite a few challenges for this non-profit that has seen it's donations dwindle because of the economy.

Considering the conditions, they say the birds were in relative good health. But they appear to be very scared of people, an obvious sign they say that they were strictly used for breeding. Wilson says they will have to undergo a complete physical exam before they can interact with the rest of the birds in his care or be adopted out.

Wilson says exotic birds aren't for everyone. He says people should think long and hard before adopting one because they are extremely loud and can be destructive and aggressive. And every year, it can cost hundreds if not thousands of dollars to care for them.

But he says what you get in return is a lot of love from a very smart animal who if treated like part of the family, can be a loving, fun pet.