Welcome To Marden's Ark Avian Refuge!

*** NEWS!!! ***

Our First Year - the video:

We are currently in our SECOND year of operation and so far we have:

1. Built, planted, cared for and harvested from four raised bed garden beds where we use natural, chemical free methods to grow food for the birds here.
2. Built a website and a Facebook page
3. Rescued 24 budgies from a hoarding situation in Virgina
4. Taken in many other birds from various owners and situations. (Read about our latest rescues here: http://www.avianrefuge.org/index.php?page=nj-birds )
5. Purchased two 5'x7' walk-in flight cages (aviaries) and used them to build a 7'x9' walk-in for the "Littles" (cockatiels and budgies).
6. Built a foundation and started construction on our first aviary

What we plan to do next:

• Enclose the front porch into three areas - two flights and a 'safety catch' area in the center. Lined with wire mesh, it will also be covered on the outside with a separated layer of screening to prevent bugs from accessing the bird areas.
• Upgrade the playroom with better perches/nets/accessories.
• Add on to the back and west sides of the house to enlarge the kitchen area and add more playroom spaces, and an addition room for separating species by size for better safety, as well as adding a dedicated quarantine area.
• Add an outdoor flight area to the back of the house that connects with the playroom for exposure to the outdoors. Our long-range goals:
• Acquire a larger, more secluded property in order to build aviaries in an undisturbed and natural setting
• Build a sound, stable organization that can support the birds here for their lifetimes

Marden's Ark Avian Refuge is a 501(c)(3) non-profit sanctuary-type rescue for companion birds. We accept companion birds regardless of their potential as rehome-able "pets" and they are given a safe place to live with healthy food, companionship, and enrichment including time out of cages every day. We believe flight is an important and essential part of being a bird and only clip wings if the bird is posing a serious danger to themselves. We offer love and compassion to all birds, regardless of species because we believe that a tiny budgie has the same thoughts and emotions as a majestic macaw.

Our Mission

Our mission is to provide a high quality refuge funded by donations from large corporate sponsors, local business owners, and generous individuals as well as funding from sales of our own line of products, so unwanted parrots and other exotic birds from the pet trade can find a permanent home where they receive the best medical care, quality food, fresh water, organic fruit and vegetables, a lot of personal attention and they can even enjoy being part of a flock. We also focus on our Education and Outreach program with goals of educating the general public in hopes of reducing impulse purchase of companion parrots and supporting families with companion parrots who are experiencing difficult times.

Where we stand now:
This organization is young but GROWING. We incorporated as a Non-profit in the state of North Carolina in April of 2014. We have received our Letter of Determination on July 25, 2014, and are recognized as a tax-exempt charity and we are actively fundraising. We can't do this alone and we welcome volunteers! Please contact by email at info AT avianrefuge DOT org if you are interested in helping out in any way. (Email address has been typed out phonetically to avoid spam bots - please change the AT to @ and dot to . before emailing and leave out the spaces)

Keep in mind that we are in the Raleigh, NC area, if you are thinking about visiting or volunteering.

Future Plans:

• Build a freestanding aviary that is habitable year-round, utilizing climate control methods in an enclosed portion. **IN PROGRESS** DUE TO OPEN IN LATE SPRING 2018!
• Build addition to add space for more area for inside cages for special needs birds
• Erect freestanding building for quarantine area
• Find and purchase larger more remote acreage
• Research possibility of building on-site vet clinic complete with in-house lab, which would also take in outside patients to help support both itself and the organization.
• Research developing and selling natural-material, naturally dyed bird-safe bird toys for sale to support the organization.
• Produce food items in off-site buildings (biosecurity) for sale to support the organization.
• Build and develop organic gardens to supply a self-sustaining food supply utilizing organic methods including vegetable matter composting (no mammal or bird feces), pest control using beneficial insects and hands-on plant care, weed control using hands-on plant care, and vermicomposting vegetable matter to aid in maintaining optimum soil quality and fertility. We intend to garden with sweat and prayers, not chemicals. We also are planning a greenhouse for year-round growing.
• Engage volunteers in all areas of the organization including constructing aviaries, gardening, bird care, toy-making, maintenance, and fund-raising.

THE WEBSITE IS GROWING --- MORE TO COME VERY SOON!