Unfortunately as my computer skills are limited I can only hope this link takes you to the magazines site. I can honestly say this article was something we had hoped would happen for a very long time. M.A.R.S. As you all know by now is the short version for Melbourne Avian Rescue Sanctuary our exotic bird rescue located on Florida’s Space Coast. We are always seeking ways to get the word out of our organization but lack the funds to promote all the work we do and programs we offer here at the rescue. Having a page featured in a magazine such as Space Coast Living will certainly aide us in reaching a far larger audience and we so thank them for this chance to do so. Â As those that follow our Facebook page know this article is also a bit bittersweet as it is the last photos taken of our beautiful Blue and Gold Macaw Woody and her life long partner Paco. Â Woody passed away shortly after these photos were taken. As always all here at our Florida Parrot Rescue MARS want to thank all of you for your continued support of our cause and for reading this posting.
macaws
This is the look of grief only a bird can convey to a human that understands
Today Paco’s best friend, lifetime mate and one of my original birds from the 70’s died. It was this morning and as I was working all around the property I got to see her before she passed and I also got  to give her a banana cookie which she took and happily ate.
Her name was Woody she was a B&G macaw and as most birds from so long ago she was a wild caught girl. She lived a full life filled with semi freedom a loving mate and really good care till there was just nothing more to be done for her. She knew what it was like to raise her own children and remember when I say this it was a long time ago before we all knew what it was like to see such numbers of birds coming into rescues nation wide. She had a really good life for a bird in captivity. We should all be so blessed and so loved. RIP Woody my girl you will always be in my heart and in Paco’s too. In loving memory I will post more but I am just to sad to do so now.
Thank you for reading and please know all of us here at MARS, Melbourne Avian Rescue Sanctuary our Florida Parrot Rescue thank you for following us and supporting us when you can do so. They all deserve happy lives and it is our mission to do just that for them. ALWAYS!!!!
Really? A cooking blog from our bird rescue M.A.R.S.
Absolutely, a must do this blog moment. Hope you all like reading it. So lets start at the end, and work back to the beginning.
This is not necessarily the fun part, the clean up that is, but considering the well received outcome of the endeavor, not such a big deal, big mess well YES!!!
When you wake up to one very cold Florida morning, ( no we could not see our own breath outside), you naturally want to warm things up a bit. Knowing there will soon be some semi cold volunteers on hand and bird beaks all in need of something warm and hopefully delicious. A little inspiration written into the kitchen window, and let the creative process begin.
One of our volunteers Jill, had recently had a party and shared the unused marinated chicken with us, along with the instructions to cook it and not let it go to waste. So what to do? Simple saute it, add some broth, carmelize some red onion, add some sauteed cherry tomatoes, (I love listening to them pop as they cook don’t you)? My friend and amazing cook Susan taught me that one. And yes Susan is usually the one cooking for all the volunteers here at M.A.R.S.. I am just usually the one cooking for the birds, or is that my cooking is for the birds? Ah well we will let the volunteers be the judge of that.
So we then add the cherry tomatoes and of course garlic cloves, how could I forget to mention lots of garlic cloves. Place everything in the crock pot for a volunteer lunch later in the afternoon.
The final ingredients, tri colored pasta, and additionally, crusty Italian bread and meyer lemon Itallian cookies for desert. Thank you Susan for those delightful additions to round out the meal.
And for the avians of Melbourne Avian Rescue Sanctuary, one of all their favorites, french toast,  made a little more special for all of them on this very chilly Florida day here at our place simply known as M.A.R.S.
And if you are possibly wondering if we all had a really good, delicious and productive day here at M.A.R.S., I can tell you this, all the Cockatoos, Amazons and Macaws are still quiet.. Always a good sign of happy birds.
M.A.R.S. is wet and wild.
You might, after all this time, think bath day here at Melbourne Avian Rescue Sanctuary is just another routine day. No way we all say! This was especially true for our very own Mr. Stubbs who just could not get enough today. He even improvised using his own bowl when we were busy hosing down the rest of the crew here at M.A.R.S.  
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Linda, Jane and I just kept taking turns with the hose, going all around the outside visitor area where the birds come for their outside time and baths. All the avians just kept asking for more, except for Jakers of course. He just puts up with it because he knows he has to do so. Then he gets 
once again to go up his favorite tree and dry off in the midday sun.
Woody one of our permanent resident Macaws just instisted on more and more.
So if you think bath day here at our exotic bird rescue is ever routine or dull, then you haven’t visited on one of these days. Plan a visit on one of our open days. (We post schedule updates on our facebook page). Wed. is usually designated bath day. We hope you too have regularly scheduled bath days for your feathered family members. Please when you come to M.A.R.S. remember donations from all of you at any time helps us to continue helping all of them. 
Just one more for you. Where there is Mr. Stubbs, Big Bird is always somewhere near by.
What is this? Art imitating life? Toooooooooo funny.
Today was all about sprucing up the outside visitor area here at our exotic parrot rescue, M.A.R.S.
I was going about my task of carefully placing some very colorful artsy pieces,  all purchased from a recent estate sale and by chance glanced upward. Paco and Woody were high up on their favorite perch preening each other and enjoying some out of the aviary sunshine time. I always get them out if I am on property, because they simply protest to much if I do not do so. I soon laughed and realized, if this isn’t life imitating art, or art imitating life however one should say it , I  don’t know what is.
Obviously with all the colorful parrots we have here at Melbourne Avian Rescue Sanctuary, we are fortunate enough to be surrounded every day by a rainbow of color. But hey, a little more added here and there never hurts. It just adds to the ambience of our Florida Parrot Rescue M.A.R.S.
Come and visit on one of our open to the public days. Monday, Wednesday and Saturday, unless a special event is scheduled off property. Check for updates on our facebook.com/marsparrots page.