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.
M.A.R.S.
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!!!!
If only we could give you all more notice. “MARS YARD SALE”
We are continuing to raise funds on our Facebook page for our “Bird Room Roof Repair” and all of us here at Melbourne Avian Rescue Sanctuary had the same thought at the same time.  YARD SALE / May 2nd / times 8:00 to 4:00. Come out and support our cause and plan on spending the day in Melbourne Beach because it is once again Founders Day here in our beachside community. Food, games, entertainment, art show  , it’s all here in one place to make for a very special day indeed. Hope to see lots of you here at the sale.
2nd Annual Adults Only Moonlight Easter Egg Hunt
Yes it it is that time of year once again to join in on the annual, yes it is adults only, Moonlight Easter Egg Hunt. All details are listed below for the where and when and also how to purchase tickets. If any one is interested in donating a prize or silent auction item to support this fun fundraising event please contact marsparrots@aol.com. Hope to see so many of you here on the 27th of  March so please get your tickets early.
Fun, fundraising, M.A.R.S. Yard sales
Although it is often a difficult task to put together these sales, it seems  they have become the only sure fire way to raise much needed funds for the parrots of M.A.R.S. We do receive a certain amount of donations from some very caring individuals but nothing that provides the on going funding necessary to keep a rescue operational.
So now comes the task of  keeping up the flow of funds by continuing to clean out and breakdown estate sales and yard sales,  acquiring as much resalable goods as we can   possibly store here at Melbourne Avian Rescue Sanctuary  in our outback barn area.
Then of course it becomes time to actually  schedule, organize, and set up the sale and pray it does not rain on the days we choose. Against a lot of odds we pull these sales off but the biggest obstacle of all is a volunteer pool willing to put in many hours of prep time as well
Here is where the difficulty lies. The time it takes away from the rescue which is in itself a full time job, Â makes keeping up this way of funding more and more difficult.
Although no other alternative has shown itself and of course we are very  great full this way has proved so successful. It is becoming increasingly hard to keep up the pace.
We are now putting it out there to all of you who follow M.A.R.S. to give us your best suggestions for seeking and finding resources and funding for this coming year. Â Thank you to all who read this message.