SouthWest Exotic Avian Rescue - SWEAR

06/03/2026

Road trip update! 🚗💨
Fergus and Bebe took an epic journey up to Utah to visit the amazing Dr. M. Scott Echols at Parrish Creek Veterinary Hospital!
​So far, it’s an overall winning health report.
​...Okay, so they might have been prescribed a little less couch-potato time and a few fewer treats (haven't we all been there?). But with some minor diet tweaks and a new exercise routine, these two are going to be in absolute peak shape.
​A massive thank you to Dr. Echols and the wonderful team at Parrish Creek for taking such incredible care of our feather babies. ❤️

05/31/2026

05/30/2026

🦜 Stop by our Pop-Up Sale today and support SouthWest Exotic Avian Rescue!

Every purchase helps provide food, housing, veterinary care, and enrichment for parrots waiting for their forever homes. Your support truly makes a difference in the lives of rescued birds.

Come say hello, browse our handmade goodies, and help us continue our mission of giving parrots a second chance.

💚 We can’t wait to see you!

05/30/2026

05/28/2026

Speaking of sprouts, Atlas enjoyed making a sprout-chop blend for his friends today! Of course, as sous chef, he must taste everything first.

Have a stubborn parrot turning up their beaks at large chunks of greens? Here are some tips to try shifting the presentation, texture, and context.

1. Play with Textures and Cuts - Sometimes it's not the taste they hate, but the mechanics of eating it.
🌱​The "Chop" Method: Finely mince vegetables in a food processor until they are tiny, grain-sized pieces. When everything is uniform, they can't easily pick out the seeds or pellets and leave the rest.
🍃​Whole Leaf Foraging: Hang whole wet leaves of kale, collard greens, or Swiss chard from the top of the cage. Many birds love to treat large leaves like a toy!
🌿​Matchsticks and Ribbons: Use a peeler to make thin ribbons of carrots or zucchini, or cut sweet peppers into thin matchsticks they can hold like a foot-toy.

2. Use Social Modeling - ​Parrots are flock animals and instinctively want to eat what the rest of the flock is eating to ensure it's safe.
🫑​Eat it yourself: Sit near their cage or play stand and eat a piece of raw broccoli, sugar snap peas, or bell pepper. Exaggerate how delicious it is.
🥦​The "Forbidden Food" Tactic: Pretend the vegetable is a special treat just for you. If they think they aren't allowed to have it, their natural curiosity and desire to share your "flock meal" will often drive them to steal a bite right off your plate.

Patience is key—it can take weeks of exposure before a bird decides a new food isn't an enemy. Keep the portions small to reduce waste, and keep experimenting with shapes and presentation.

05/28/2026

Sprouts are an easy way to add fresh food choices to your picky feathered friends diets!

05/24/2026

Pop-Up Toy Sale is next Saturday!
Get your flock’s wish lists ready - this is the event you don't want to miss!

​📅 The Details:
​When: May 30th | 9:00 AM - 3:00 PM
​Where: 8850 Steven Chase Ct, 89149
​Payment: Cash, Venmo, Apple Pay, & Zelle only

​Come out, stock up, and support a great cause—every purchase helps support the rescue birds at SWEAR! 🧡

05/23/2026

We have a few grooming spots available this afternoon in Henderson! Schedule at

Reserve a grooming appointment for your feathered family member! Space is always limited so grab your spot today! PLEASE RESERVE the NEXT AVAILABLE time slot to make the best use of our volunteers' time at this event. If there is a large time gap between appointments you will be asked to change your

05/20/2026

Did you know Lafeber Nutri-Berries offers free webinars? What a great way to get up-to-date information on parrots and be able to ask vets questions!
Check out some of the latest questions for Dr. Tom Tully. Link to webinar is included.

05/19/2026

There's an old proverb about not being able to make 100% of the people happy 100% of the time. This is one of those times. I am going to leave opinions out, and just share the facts.

The toucan known as "Sam" has been returned to his owners. We took him in, provided him with necessary veterinary care, got him healthy, and followed our standard procedure for a lost bird until owners were located.

While in our care, Sam was housed in a large aviary with plenty of room to fly, swing, hop, and play. He also had an entire large playroom to himself to keep up his health and excellent flying skills. He showed himself to be a very smart and playful boy, and we truly enjoyed our time with him. We wish him the absolute best. It is our hope that his future includes a large aviary with room to fly, fresh nutritious foods twice a day, and plenty of interactive engagement.

​For anyone considering an exotic pet, please research their basic needs before acquiring one. Exotic species require ample space to move, mental enrichment, proper diets, and clean environments. In a climate like Las Vegas, housing animals outdoors requires dedicated management, including heating systems in the winter, cooling systems in the summer, and protection from predators and other health risks.

Best of luck sweet boy. It was our privilege to care for you. ❤️

Sam the Toucan — the viral bird who escaped in November and spent months flying around the Las Vegas Valley — is set to reunite with his owner!

Full story: https://www.fox5vegas.com/2026/05/18/sam-toucan-returns-owners-after-months-flying-around-las-vegas/