Quaker Rescue
GUIDELINES

• To rescue baby Quakers (Monk Parakeets) in the Chicago area when nests have become a hazard or danger to public safety.
• To manage the Caregiver Program in which all rescued birds will be hand-raised and cared for by qualified individuals.
• To place ownership of a rescued bird in the care of qualified bird owners, in an environment that is deemed most appropriate to successfully raise and prolong the health and well-being of the bird.
• To train the Caregivers how to hand-feed rescued Quaker babies.

The function of the Quaker Rescue Committee is to administer the Quaker Rescue Program. All rules, regulations, requirements, and policies are subject to approval by the Greater Chicago Cage Bird Club Board of Directors.

Section A: The ownership of the birds received by the QRC is maintained by the Greater Chicago Cage Bird Club until such time as an Ownership application is approved by the QRC and applicable fees are paid.

Section B: The Quaker Rescue Committee will consist of individuals representing three groupings within the club: 1) Chairperson and/or Co-Chairperson appointed by the club president, 2) Three members from the Board of Directors, and 3) Three members from General Membership.

Section C: The committee Chairperson and/or Co-Chairperson will provide the Greater Chicago Cage Bird Club Board of Directors with an annual report for approval and printing in the monthly bulletin.

Section D: The committee is required to meet a minimum of twice a year: Once to approve Caregiver applications and once to approve Ownership applications. Additional meetings as deemed necessary are encouraged by the Greater Chicago Cage Bird Club Board of Directors.

Section E: To hold a meeting, the QRC requires a quorum of one half of the committee members plus one (4).

Section F: All Caregiver and Ownership applications will be screened by the QRC. There will be a case-by-case evaluation and the QRC will make the final decision.

Section G: The members of the QRC are eligible for ownership of rescued bird(s). They are subject to all rules and applicable fees as written in these guidelines.

Section H: The QRC Chairman will handle correspondence with utility companies and/or any other referring agency.

Part III. COMMITTEE GUIDELINES

Section A: The QRC will place a maximum of five (5) birds per household to the caregivers. This will ensure the birds receive proper socialization.

Section B: When possible, the QRC will ensure that the birds placed in the caregiver's home are similar in age and size.

Section C: Since resale is not encouraged by the Greater Chicago Cage Bird Club, the QRC will fairly consider all ownership applications (example: if five (5) birds enter the program and only (5) qualifying applications are submitted, then each applicant will receive one (1) bird. The QRC will not place all five (5) of these birds with one (1) applicant).

Section D: The QRC will only place fully weaned rescued birds with new owners. Fully weaned means the bird no longer requires hand-feeding formula to survive, the bird can eat and drink on its own.

Section E: In the event no applicant is considered satisfactory, the rescued birds will be cared for by a QRC member until a satisfactory applicant is identified.

Section F: The QRC will band the rescued birds with a closed or open Greater Chicago Cage Bird Club band. The band will be a GCCBC band and will contain the current year and the code of QRP imprinted on it.

Section G: The QRC will evaluate and process a caregiver's Ownership Application before considering applications from members and non-members.

Section H: When possible, the QRC will provide hand-feeding formula to the caregivers.

Section I: When possible, the QRC Chairman will provide a referral to the caregiver for one of the club's avian veterinarians.

Section J: The QRC will not release ownership of any rescued bird without first receiving a signed liability release form from the new owner.

Section K: Applicable fees to the Quaker Rescue Program are used to help cover the cost of running the program and become part of the club's general treasury.

Section L: Any baby Quaker not placed in a home after one (1) year will be placed in the Greater Chicago Cage Bird Club Adoption Program.

Part IV. CAREGIVER PROGRAM

All applicants must demonstrate compliance with the following criteria:

Section A: The caregiver must be a current Greater Chicago Cage Bird Club member for at least one (1) year.

Section B: The caregiver must fill out a Caregiver Agreement Application in order to be considered as a caregiver.

Section C: The caregiver must display experience and knowledge of proper animal husbandry (hand-feeding/weaning, housing, diet, proper sanitation procedure, etc.).

Section D: In the event an applicant does not have any hand-feeding experience, the applicant may be considered as a caregiver after they successfully complete a proper hand-feeding clinic. When available, the QRC will conduct a clinic, or the applicant may choose to attend training by a clinic outside the club, however, the applicant must provide the QRC with a certificate of completion from this clinic.

Section E: The caregivers are volunteers and they are not paid for their efforts by the Greater Chicago Cage Bird Club.

Section F: Greater Chicago Cage Bird Club will reimburse the caregiver for any hand-feeding formula, supplies, and medical expenses deemed necessary to properly care for the birds. Receipts must be provided. When available, Greater Chicago Cage Bird Club will provide hand-feeding formula to the caregiver.

Section G: It is the responsibility of the caregiver to provide the Greater Chicago Cage Bird Club treasurer with proper receipts, prior to reimbursement, on a monthly basis.

Section H: The caregivers must agree that the birds in their care are the property of Greater Chicago Cage Bird Club and that they will release the birds to Greater Chicago Cage Bird Club when a suitable home is identified.

Section I: The caregivers are eligible for ownership of rescued bird(s). They are subject to all rules and applicable fees as written in these guidelines.

Section J: When the rescued birds are weaned (approx. 8-12 weeks old), the caregiver will provide the QRC Chairman with the band numbers of the babies they want to take ownership of and pay the applicable fees at that time. The remaining babies will then be available for ownership to club members and then to non-members.

Section K: In the event a bird becomes ill or injured while in the care of a caregiver, the caregiver must contact the QRC Chairman or the club President who will refer them to an avian veterinarian.

Section L: If a bird dies while in the procession of a caregiver, they should call the QRC Chairman who will decide if a necropsy is necessary.

Part V. OWNERSHIP APPLICATIONS

All applicants must demonstrate compliance with the following criteria:

Section A: The applicant must fill out an Ownership Application.

Section B: Ownership is limited to two (2) birds per household per year.

Section C: The applicant must display experience and knowledge of proper animal husbandry and agree to provide proper diet, housing, facilities and enrichment consistent with the species.

Section D: The applicant must agree to provide the necessary veterinarian care for the bird at their own expense once they take ownership of the bird.

Section E: There will be three (3) types of applicable fees to claim ownership of a rescued bird:

1) Caregiver: $50.00 per bird.
2) Club Member: $75.00 per bird.
3) Non-Member: $125.00 per bird.

Section F: First, the caregivers will have the opportunity to take ownership of a rescued bird. Second, the club membership will have the opportunity to take ownership of a rescued bird. Third, non-members will have the opportunity to take ownership of a rescued bird.

Section G: A release form must be signed by the applicant upon taking ownership, releasing the Greater Chicago Cage Bird Club from any liability.

Section H: Final ownership of a rescued Quaker is a transfer of ownership from Greater Chicago Cage Bird Club to the applicant. Once ownership has been transferred, the Greater Chicago Cage Bird Club has no further claim on these birds, unless the bird was placed in the GCCBC Adoption Program.

 

return to top