How to Find a Local Parrot Rescue and Rehome a Bird in the UK

Updated

Birdline Parrot Rescue is the UK's largest parrot and exotic bird charity, operating across England, Scotland and Wales. It rescues, rehabilitates and rehomes parrots, and places birds with foster homes through its membership scheme rather than selling them. If you want to take on a rescue parrot, the practical route is to join the charity as a member, apply for a bird, and go through its rehoming process. If you need to give up a bird, the same organisation has a surrender route. The sections below cover both directions and what to check before you commit.

What a parrot rescue actually does

A rescue charity such as Birdline takes in orphaned, unwanted, found and injured parrots and parakeets, then works to rehabilitate and rehome them. It also runs education and welfare work — advice on diet, health, enrichment and household hazards — and relies on volunteers and fundraising through membership, foster fees, donations and events.

This is different from buying a bird. Birdline's own message is "Don't buy, foster," citing that parrots average 5 to 7 homes in a lifetime. Rehoming through a charity is intended to break that cycle by finding long-term homes rather than passing a bird on again.

Finding a rescue that covers your area

"Local" is the tricky word here. Parrot rescues are far fewer than cat or dog rescues, and a national charity may not have a branch in your town. Birdline states that it operates across England, Scotland and Wales, so coverage is national rather than strictly local.

Before applying anywhere, confirm:

  • Coverage area — does the rescue rehome to your region, and how far will its team travel for a home check?
  • Species handled — some rescues focus on parrots and parakeets generally; check yours is within scope.
  • Current birds available — Birdline lists birds looking for new homes on its site (for example Chester & Shamus, Eric, Billy & Abby, and Blazie, Rory & Pixel), which gives you a sense of what is actually waiting.
  • Membership requirement — Birdline places birds with Birdline members, so joining is part of the route, not an optional extra.

If a national charity is your only realistic option, treat "local" as "will rehome to my area" rather than "has a centre down the road."

The rehoming process, step by step

Birdline's site sets out the path through its Rehoming Process and How to Apply for a Bird pages. The sequence in practice looks like this:

  1. Join Birdline as a member. Membership is how the charity funds itself and is the entry point for offering a home to a bird.
  2. Review the birds available. Look at the birds currently listed as looking for a new home and check whether your household suits that species and temperament.
  3. Apply for a bird using the charity's application route.
  4. Expect a home assessment. A volunteer-run charity will want to confirm your setup is suitable before placing a bird.
  5. Pay the foster fee. Birdline raises funds partly through foster fees, so budget for this alongside ongoing care costs.
  6. Take the bird home and keep in contact. The aim is a long-term placement, so the charity retains an interest in how the bird settles.

Because Birdline is run entirely on a voluntary basis, expect responses and checks to move at volunteer pace rather than retail speed.

What to expect from a rescue parrot

A rescue bird may arrive with an unknown history — hence the 5 to 7 homes statistic. Plan for:

  • Long-term cost and commitment. Parrots are long-lived; the charity's education work on diet, health, enrichment and household hazards exists because these needs are commonly underestimated.
  • Behaviour that needs time. A bird that has moved between homes may need patience while it settles.
  • Housing that matches the species. Check aviary and cage guidance before you apply rather than after.
  • A vet who sees birds. Birdline maintains a Directory of Avian Vets, which is a sensible starting point for finding appropriate veterinary care.

If you need to surrender a bird

Birdline has a dedicated Surrender a Bird page and also offers guidance on Future Planning for your bird — useful if your circumstances are changing and you want to arrange care in advance. Surrendering responsibly means contacting a rescue before the situation becomes urgent, being honest about the bird's health and behaviour, and asking what happens if the bird cannot be rehomed.

Questions to ask before you apply

  • Does the rescue rehome to my area, and who carries out the home check?
  • Which species and ages are currently available?
  • What does membership cost, and what is the foster fee?
  • What support is offered after placement if the bird does not settle?
  • What are the rescue's policies on returns or re-surrender?

Birdline publishes its policies, terms and conditions and an FAQs section, so check those first — many of these answers are already documented.