I had the privilege of going to The Tropics in August of this year. Sure, I'd been on their web site and had sponsored Yago, a Yellow Collared Macaw, for years but I wasn't prepared for what was in store for me.
When I arrived Mary greeted me back by one of the buildings where most of the birds are kept. She was going to take me to where Yago is, the bird that I sponsor. She opened the door and I was overwhelmed by screaming, talking parrots. The room was bright, full of colors like a rainbow which was made up of hundreds of parrots (at least that's what it seemed like), all of them yearning for attention. As you walk by them they say "Hello", "Pretty Bird", "I Love You", with a flap of there wings and a turn of there head. As she took me over to my Yago he sat on her shoulder not very sure of me but one of his neighbors GINO was talking and flapping away so Mary let him out for a while. A beautiful cockatoo with his crest up. God was he gorgeous. Eventually Yago warmed up to me and started singing me a song LA, LA, LA, LA. As he sang I noticed he bobbed up and down with his whole body to the beat of the song he was singing.
Mary then told me that Yago loves Christmas songs, any song on the radio, but he especially loves Christmas lights that blink and play a Christmas song. Mary & John put them on their tree every year just for him. Mary decided that we'd take Yago in the house for a little personal visit. As we walked through the rest of this building Mary was telling me about some of the birds' stories and how and why they were there. We walked in the house and I noticed there was this sweet little Quaker sitting on his perch on top of his cage with a little sweater on. The sweater was made out of a baby sock. I asked Mary who's this little guy and she said "BEANER". She told me how he arrived and his story, which absolutely broke my heart, to say the least. So we went over to the sofa where Yago and I observed each other as I spoke with Mary and John regarding the Tropics. I was amazed and saddened to find out that only 10% of the birds are sponsored there. Do you know what 10% of 300 + is it = next to NOTHING.
I was also informed that the raffle they have also isn't going well. She showed me the pretty pieces of jewelry that a donor provided, that will be raffled off. As we continued to talk, Mary pulled a bag of fish crackers over from the end table and these two birds flew over my head onto the top of the sofa. Mary tells me that these two are RICKI & LUCY and they love these crackers. She gave each one a cracker and they sat there for a minute and ate them and then decided to take the rest of the cracker up to a ceiling fan were they sat and ate there crackers happily. Mary tells me they love the ceiling fan especially if you give it a little push with your hand. They love to go around and around. So John got up and pushed the fan and I watched them go around and around with a chirp here and there. They were adorable to say the least. Next stop was the room along side the living room with more beautiful birds. One of them loved to talk. She said "I'm a Baby Doll" and "I Love You" as she paced the top of her cage. She was so sweet she'd look at you with her head turned sideways and looked right in your eyes and said "I Love You". Talk about melting your heart.
Now it was time to put Yago back with his buddy Toby. So we walked back into the building and it seemed like all the parrots were having there own little conversation plus a little screaming now and then. I said goodbye to my Yago and Mary took me over to the next building where smaller birds were kept. Now, I'm thinking to myself, there has got to be hundreds of these birds Here how could people be so cruel and do this to these gorgeous creatures. Then I thought I'm one of them, I have a parrot too. But one thing I have vowed my parrot and I will be together till DEATH do us part. It became very obvious to me that many people did not feel that way nor did they think about the life span or work and time these gorgeous creatures need.
Next stop was the Dome. I cannot begin to tell you how beautiful this dome is. It is absolutely unbelievable. Once this Dome is completed it will be worth while to travel hundreds of miles to see, honest. As a matter of fact the Tropics is somewhere you should have already visited if you are a sponsor or a potential sponsor. You cannot appreciate it unless you experience it! You cannot see the work and time Mary & John put in on a daily bases not even in your wildest dreams, I didn't. I cannot believe that two people feed, clean, give medical attention to over 300 + birds 365 days a year. No vacations, no days off, no sick days in their field. These things are non existent. I also have chosen to sponsor another bird at the Tropics. I am now the PROUD sponsor of BEANER and I mean proud! Just out of curiosity, who are you sponsoring? Who have you told about the Tropics today? Who did you tell about the raffle today to benefit these gorgeous creatures? Next time you're on your computer e-mail your friends, family, co workers about the tropics and include the address of there new ,beautiful web site. I know there has been a lot of tragic events lately, but lets not forget about our feathered friends. We don't forget to eat every day and our feathered friends need to eat every day too.
I urge everyone one to visit The Tropics. You can't even begin to imagine what you'll be in store for. I traveled 9 1/2 hours to see my friends Yago & Beaner. It was worth every second. Please, lets put more effort into supporting The Tropics, Mary, John, and all 300 + parrots. The birds need our help and most of all our support and I'm not just talking financially either. Tell someone about The Tropics. buy a raffle ticket. It only takes a few second out of one's busy schedule, and trust me, none of you are as busy as Mary and John are.
With much respect and heart felt wishes thank you for your time Mary, John and all my feathered friends. Thank you for taking the time and sharing a few hours with me.
Respectfully,
KRISTINE YAMELLO
Ocean, New Jersey
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