05/19/2026
A Serendipitous Match: Phoenix and Sarsaparilla 🍺
(Please share our sweet story)
As the birds in our care grow older, we sometimes make the gentle decision to retire them from outdoor aviary life for their safety and comfort. But at The Oasis, retirement isn't the end of the story...sometimes, it’s just the beginning of a beautiful new chapter.
Take Phoenix, a handsome slate color mutation Peach-faced Lovebird. After losing his longtime companion, Petey, in 2023, Phoenix didn't seem interested in forming a new bond, content to do his own thing. Then, last year, an infection brought him indoors for medical treatment. While his illness resolved, his strength didn't fully bounce back. To give him time to recover, we moved him to the indoor small bird area in the Pumpkin building, where he would have the opportunity to exercise through flight.
His indoor stay offered something even better than convalescence, it offered a spark of curiosity. While recovering, Phoenix caught the eye of a beautiful lutino Peach-faced Lovebird named Sarsaparilla.
Sarsaparilla was already a resident of the indoor Pumpkin flock. After a severe leg break failed to heal properly, she had undergone an amputation. But her new way of life didn’t slow her down. Driven by a true fighting spirit, she practiced tirelessly until she mastered liftoffs, landing, and balancing on her perches as she moved around. Because she tires a bit more quickly than the others, her favorite spot is a specially cushioned shelf where she can rest and observe the lively activity around her.
When Phoenix was officially released into the Pumpkin flock, he didn't hesitate. Bold, confident, and utterly smitten, he immediately set out to win her heart. He began flying to Sarsaparilla’s cushioned shelf every single day, chattering excitedly and filling the air with happy squeaks. Sarsaparilla was hesitant at first, having lost mates of her own in the past, she was careful with her heart. But Phoenix refused to be discouraged, and his persistent wooing eventually broke through.
Today, these two are completely inseparable, holding entirely true to their name as lovebirds. On any given afternoon, you can find them snuggling for a nap on their cozy shelf, sharing a meal, or preening each other. They love to fly around the room together, and Phoenix watches admiringly as Sarsaparilla proudly shreds bits of paper to tuck into her tail feathers.
Having both lived in the outdoor aviary previously, they certainly knew of each other. But it took their separate health challenges to bring them into the same room, at the same time, when they both needed a friend. Their intersection was pure serendipity. Today, they mean the world to each other. It seems that true bonds always find a way at The Oasis. 💕
https://the-oasis.org/donate/
