Papayago Rescue House, Inc.

10/21/2026

You know parrots.

But did you know that parrots represent only a small fraction of the world's birds?

Welcome to the passerines.
Passeriformes is the scientific order commonly called the passerines, or perching birds. And it is enormous.
Current global taxonomy recognizes roughly 6,700 passerine species, about 60% of all bird species on Earth.

“Passerine” does NOT mean “finch.”
Finches are passerines. So are canaries, waxbills, sparrows, mynahs, starlings, thrushes, wrens, swallows, crows, jays, robins, and hundreds of other birds.

They can be tiny birds weighing only a few grams, or substantially larger birds. Their diets can range from primarily seeds to insects, fruit, nectar, or combinations of these.

What they share is a particular evolutionary heritage and a suite of anatomical characteristics. One of the most recognizable is their foot: three toes directed forward and one strong toe directed backward, an arrangement specialized for perching.

Many passerines also have remarkably complex vocal anatomy. Their syrinx, the vocal organ located at the base of the trachea, allows many species to produce extraordinarily complex sounds and songs.

And this is where the word “songbird” can get us into trouble.

Not every passerine is a songbird in the everyday sense, and not every passerine lives like the little seed-eating finches we picture in a pet store.

There are thousands of species in this order, occupying an astonishing range of ecological niches.
Only a small fraction are commonly kept by people.

So why are we talking about passerines at Papayago Rescue House and adding them to our Wellness Wednesday information?

Because normally, we stay in our lane.
We are a parrot rescue. Our expertise, programs, training, husbandry, medical protocols, and education are built around captive parrots.

But sometimes a bird needs help, and there simply isn't anywhere for them to go.

Our passerines came to us because they needed a safe place, too.
That doesn't mean we pretend that caring for a passerine is the same as caring for a parrot.

It means we are willing to learn.
Passerines have complicated needs. Their anatomy, metabolism, behavior, communication, social structures, nutrition, and medical considerations can be very different from those of parrots.

So we are approaching them the same way we approach everything we do at PRH:
Learn what we know.
Identify what we don't know.
Use the best evidence available.
Work with qualified professionals when we need expertise.
Watch the consequences of our decisions.
And change our approach when better evidence emerges.

We aren't trying to become experts in every animal.
We're trying to become better caregivers for the animals who have been entrusted to us.

And right now, that includes some very small and very complicated birds.

Welcome to the passerines of Papayago Rescue House.

10/20/2026

We’re keeping the fall chop bowls fresh and colorful this week with kale, yellow squash, and cilantro. It may look simple, but this combination brings plenty of nutrition to the table.

Kale packs in vitamin A and calcium to support healthy feathers and bones. Yellow squash adds fiber and hydration, while fresh cilantro brings a burst of flavor plus vitamins and antioxidants. Different colors, textures, and tastes also give curious parrots more reasons to explore their food.

Fall comfort food doesn’t have to be heavy. Sometimes it’s green, yellow, fresh, and served to a parrot who will immediately decide which ingredient belongs in the beak and which ones on the floor.

10/19/2026

RARELY DISCUSSED: Your bird’s bloodwork is perfect, but they aren’t

Your bird's bloodwork came back normal. Wonderful.
But your bird still isn't right.

Maybe they're quieter. Sleeping more. Losing weight. Eating differently. Their droppings have changed. They're less interactive. They're flying differently. Something about them has changed, and you know your bird well enough to recognize it.

So what do you do when the laboratory report says everything is "fine"?
First, don't throw the bloodwork out.

Bloodwork is incredibly valuable in avian medicine. A CBC and chemistry panel can provide important information about blood cells, inflammation, kidney and liver function, glucose, proteins, calcium, electrolytes, and more.

But bloodwork is a snapshot, not the entire bird.

A bird can have a problem that isn't reflected in the particular blood tests performed.
Some problems require imaging.
Some require microbiology, cytology, cultures, or PCR.
Some require looking at trends over time rather than one set of numbers.
And some conditions simply don't have a reliable blood marker.

So if your bird still isn't right, ask your avian veterinarian:
“What information do we have, and what information are we still missing?”

Depending on your bird's signs and history, that conversation might include questions about:
A Gram stain. Could looking at a sample for bacteria, yeast, and cellular changes provide another piece of the puzzle?
A MiDOG test. Would microbial DNA sequencing provide useful information in this particular case?
A heavy-metal panel. Is there any reason to investigate possible lead or zinc exposure?
Radiographs. Could an X-ray show something that bloodwork cannot?
And depending on the individual case, there may be other appropriate diagnostics—fecal testing, culture, PCR, cytology, ultrasound, repeat bloodwork, or something else entirely.

The point isn't that every bird with normal bloodwork needs all of these tests.

It is that normal bloodwork does not necessarily end the diagnostic process when the clinical picture doesn't make sense.

And sometimes the most important diagnostic information isn't in the tube at all. It is in the bird.

Your veterinarian needs to know what has changed.
Don't just say, “They're acting weird.”
Tell them what you observed and when it started. Give dates.
Track the things you can measure: weight, appetite, water consumption, droppings, activity, sleep, vocalization, flight, perching, grooming, and interaction.
Your observations don't replace veterinary diagnostics.
But they are part of the diagnostic picture.

Because a parrot is not a CBC.
A parrot is not a chemistry panel.
A parrot is a whole patient.

Bloodwork is one window into that patient.
Don't mistake the window for the whole view.

10/18/2026

FOUND: PRH-Stray 282 FISCHER’S LOVEBIRD
FOUND IN CANTON, UPPER BURRIS ROAD IN CHEROKEE COUNTY
FOUND DATE: SATURDAY 10/17/2026 EVENING

In quarantine, disease testing in progress, gram stained.

CONTACT: PAPAYAGO RESCUE HOUSE 678-401-8174

Sharing is caring!

10/18/2026

OPINION SUNDAY: When Love isn’t enough to pay the vet bill

Nobody wants to talk about this.
Your parrot is sick.

Your veterinarian tells you there is a test that could help figure out the problem or a treatment that could help.

You want to do it.
And then you hear the cost.
$1,000.
$2,000.
$5,000.

And you simply don't have it.

What happens then?
There is a term for euthanasia that occurs because a caregiver cannot afford tests or a medically viable treatment: economic euthanasia.

It is a real part of veterinary medicine. Research has found that financial limitations can directly influence whether tests or treatment are pursued, including whether euthanasia is chosen when a treatable condition exists.

And before anyone gets angry about that term, let's be very clear:
Not being able to afford a $2,500 procedure does not mean you don't love your bird.

Love and money are not the same resource.

A caregiver can be completely devoted to their companion and still have a financial limit.

But here's where we think the conversation needs to shift.
Don't wait until your bird is critically ill to discover what your financial limit is.

Know where your avian veterinarian is.
Know where you should go for an emergency.
Ask your veterinarian what kinds of costs you might realistically face as your bird ages.
Ask about treatment options, expected outcomes, and costs.
Ask what alternatives exist when the ideal treatment isn't financially possible.
Ask about financial assistance before you are sitting in an emergency room trying to decide while your bird is critically ill.

And if the worst happens?

Don't let anyone tell you that choosing euthanasia because you genuinely cannot afford a viable test or treatment means you didn't love your bird enough.

Sometimes caregivers are forced to make an impossible decision with resources that simply aren't enough.

That doesn't make the decision easy or the grief smaller.
And it doesn't mean the love wasn't there.
It means we need to be willing to talk about the financial reality of parrot caregiving BEFORE the crisis.

Because caring for a parrot isn't just about being prepared to love them.
It's being prepared for what that love may require.

10/17/2026

SATURDAY SHARES THE WILD

Good information deserves to be shared.
Each Saturday, Papayago Rescue House will highlight educational resources, wildlife initiatives, and the work of organizations helping animals and the environments they depend on.

Through this series, we will introduce our community to additional resources, broaden awareness of wildlife welfare and conservation, and recognize the important work being done beyond our own doors, as close as next door.

Content shared from other organizations will remain the work and responsibility of its original publisher. Sharing a post will not necessarily constitute independent scientific review by Papayago Rescue House.

Learn something new. Share responsibly. Make a difference by knowing what and what not to do if you encounter wildlife you wish to give attention to, or want to “rescue”. Sharing is caring!

Please stop feeding the deer in your yard. They are not pets.

EDITED TO ADD: This post is for people who put corn and other food out for wild deer because they enjoy watching them visit every day. This isn't directed at hunters or people who grow corn. We're talking about intentionally and routinely feeding wild deer in your yard.

We know. They LOVE corn. But that doesn't mean it's good for them. Deer have a specialized digestive system designed for the foods they naturally eat. Large amounts of corn can make them sick and shouldn't be part of their daily diet.

When deer learn to associate people with food, they can lose their wariness of humans. Inviting them into your neighborhood by feeding them daily increases the risk of vehicle collisions, property damage, and conflicts with people who may not feel the same way about them as you.

If you love seeing deer in your yard, enjoy watching them from a distance. Don't feed them, and never try to approach or pet them. The best thing you can give deer is the freedom to stay wild. ❤️

10/16/2026

CLEAN & SAFE FRIDAY: You may have brought home more than bird food

You bought the bag.
It was sealed.
It looked perfectly normal.
So how did you end up with moths flying around your house?

Here’s the uncomfortable answer:
The infestation may have started long before that bag reached your home.

Stored-product pests can enter the food supply chain during production, processing, packaging, transportation, warehousing, retail storage, or after the food reaches your home.

And “I didn't see a bug” doesn't mean there wasn't one there.
Stored-product pests, including moths, beetles, and weevils, can be present as eggs, larvae, pupae, or adults. Some of those life stages are tiny or hidden inside the product.

So what can you actually do?
When your bird food arrives, inspect the package before you put it away. Look for holes, damaged seams, webbing, clumping, larvae, beetles, moths, or anything that simply doesn't look right.

Keep bird food in a clean, tightly sealed, food-safe container in a cool, dry location. Don't leave opened food sitting in the original bag! Buy quantities you can reasonably use rather than storing months and months of food.

If you have the freezer space, freezing bird food that isn't going to be used right away can add another layer of protection. A freezer maintained at 0°F (-18°C) for at least four days is recommended by extension resources for controlling stored-product insects and their eggs. Larger packages may require longer because the entire product has to reach the target temperature.

But what if you open the bag and find webbing? Stop. Don't just pick out the webbing and keep feeding.

Discard the infested food and thoroughly clean the storage area. Vacuum cracks, corners, and spilled food, then clean the surfaces. Don't spray insecticide around food storage areas.

Indianmeal moth larvae can leave the food source and travel before they pupate, so the moth you see may not be anywhere near the food that started the infestation.

Because the goal isn't to kill the moth you can see.
It's to find the food source you can't see.

* Birdseed is specifically identified as a common source of stored-product pest infestations in homes.

10/15/2026

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10/14/2026

WELLNESS WEDNESDAY: Don't let the bag name your bird's diet.
“Parrot Food.”
“Premium Blend.”
“Fortified Parrot Food.”
“Seed & Grain Mix.”
“Seed, Grain & Vegetable Mix.”
“Nutritional Diet.”

Sounds pretty good, doesn't it? And that's exactly where we need to slow down.

The front of the bag is designed to make you feel good about what you're buying.

But your bird doesn't eat the front of the bag.
So let's look inside.

See those sunflower seeds?
They are highly palatable and commonly selected by parrots. They're also high in fat, low in calcium, and deficient in some essential amino acids.

Those safflower seeds?
They're not a nutritional free pass either. Safflower is actually higher in fat than sunflower seeds and is also inadequate in calcium and amino acids.

Those peanuts?
Peanuts and improperly stored seeds can harbor Aspergillus and, under the right conditions, aflatoxins. Aflatoxicosis can cause serious liver disease in birds.

And those dried fruits and vegetables?
Their presence doesn't automatically turn a seed-heavy mixture into a nutritionally complete diet.

The food offered is not necessarily the food consumed.

A bird can be given seeds AND pellets and still consume primarily seeds. Veterinary guidance specifically recognizes selective eating from seed-and-pellet mixtures as a cause of inadequate nutrient consumption.

So we need to stop being impressed by the ingredient list and start understanding what it actually means.

What is the nutritional contribution of each major ingredient?
What are its limitations?
And most importantly:
What is your bird actually eating?

Because the nutritional analysis on the package describes the food that was formulated.
It does not necessarily describe what your bird is consuming.

That's the part that matters.
Not what we put in the bowl.
What goes into the bird.

So the next time you see “Premium,” “Fortified,” “Natural,” “Complete,” or “Parrot Food” on the front of a bag, don't let the label decide for you.

Read the ingredients. Understand what those ingredients contribute, and what they don't.

The front of the bag is marketing.
The ingredient list tells a story.
Your bird's actual intake tells you the truth.