City Parrots

Have you seen this parrot pair?  For their safe and professional capture, please call (650) 391-8094 with sightings.

Update on: Carlinville Macaws’ futures up in the air

Two years before Del Nejmanowski’s recent death, he and his birds were evicted from the home that they had known for over a decade.  Consequently, due to the eviction, many of his exotic birds succumbed to the freezing winters and without a safe haven, fell victim to senseless acts of violence.  Now, only two Blue and Gold Macaws remain and still fly, at large, in and around Carlinville.

All are urged to please contribute toward their safe capture, continued care and integration into Serenity Park Sanctuary, a new one-of-a-kind avian sanctuary on VA grounds.  Here, a compensated work therapy program is in place under the auspices of New Directions, a drug and alcohol treatment program for homeless veterans located at the Veterans Affairs Medical Center in Brentwood, California.

“My Father was a kind and compassionate soul who was a champion of the weak and less fortunate.  He loved all God’s creatures and used his birds to bring joy to others.  Serenity Park embodies my Dad’s quiet benevolence to countless people disdained by society- I never once saw my father not get out his own wallet to help someone in need,” Barbara Kiss, Nejmanowski’s daughter said.

There are currently 16 homeless parrots at Serenity Park Sanctuary and veteran servicemen and women care for these parrots as part of their treatment.  The parrots of Serenity Park provide veterans the opportunity to put learned spiritual principles such as patience, sympathy and empathy into practice in a relatively stress-free environment.

“This organization is only 5 minutes from where I live and I wish that I knew about it just three months ago when my Dad was alive and visiting me here in California,” Gina Purdue, another of Nejmanowki’s daughters, said, “He would have loved witnessing and immediately understood the benefits that the veterans, the homeless and the birds all bring to one another.”

The gradual transition reintegrates the veterans back into the workforce.  They then leave New Directions with a job, housing, a savings account, computer skills, renewed self-confidence and the support of mentors and peers.  Those wanting more information and testimonials may visit:  http://www.cityparrots.org/post/birds-of-a-feather

”In spite of having worked hard to build up a multi-million dollar business to employ hundreds of people, my Dad, at the end of his life, was uninsured and lived mostly off the benefits of veterans’ medical coverage and Social Security,” Patricia Nejmanowski, another of D. Nejmanowski’s daughters, said, “And although my Father was heartbroken at losing his home and his beloved birds, he was always very grateful for the benefits of federal programs.  This is a way for my Dad to ‘pay it forward’.  I know he would have wanted this”.

A nonprofit endowment fund has been set up at Carlinville National Bank (CNB), West Side of Square, Carlinville, IL 62626.  All are asked to please make their charitable donations payable to “The Association for Parrot Care”.