These birds had not flocked together to the local trail where they were rescued from among the brush by Mission Viejo Animal Services Center staff.
Instead, it appeared the nearly 30 parakeets were out of their element and needed rescuing, officials said. Now they are ready for new homes.
Two of the 30 parakeets abandoned on a trail in Laguna Niguel and captured on Tuesday, April 12, sit safely in cages in the lobby at the Mission Viejo Animal Services Center in Mission Viejo on Friday, April 15, 2022. The parakeets will go up for adoption on Sunday, April 17. (Photo by Mark Rightmire, Orange County Register/SCNG)
Courtney Dustin, an animal care technician at the Mission Viejo Animal Services Center in Mission Viejo, adjusts the feed dish in one of the cages containing some of the 30 parakeets abandoned on a trail in Laguna Niguel and then captured on Tuesday, April 12, in the lobby at the Mission Viejo Animal Services Center in Mission Viejo on Friday, April 15, 2022. The parakeets will go up for adoption on Sunday, April 17. (Photo by Mark Rightmire, Orange County Register/SCNG)
A white parakeet, one of the 30 parakeets abandoned on a trail in Laguna Niguel and captured on Tuesday, April 12, sits safely in a cage in the lobby at the Mission Viejo Animal Services Center in Mission Viejo on Friday, April 15, 2022. The parakeets will go up for adoption on Sunday, April 17. (Photo by Mark Rightmire, Orange County Register/SCNG)
Wendy Helton, a field supervisor with t the Mission Viejo Animal Services Center in Mission Viejo works on capturing approximately 30 parakeets abandoned on a trail in Laguna Niguel on Tuesday, April 12, 2022. The birds now rest safely in cagea in the lobby at the Mission Viejo Animal Services Center and will go up for adoption on Sunday, April 17. (Photo Courtesy Mission Viejo Animal Services Center)
One of the 30 parakeets abandoned on a trail in Laguna Niguel and then captured on Tuesday, April 12, nibbles on the finger of Courtney Dustin, an animal care technician at the Mission Viejo Animal Services Center in Mission Viejo, on Friday, April 15, 2022. The parakeets will go up for adoption on Sunday, April 17. (Photo by Mark Rightmire, Orange County Register/SCNG)
A white parakeet, one of the 30 parakeets abandoned on a trail in Laguna Niguel and captured on Tuesday, April 12, sits safely in a cage in the lobby at the Mission Viejo Animal Services Center in Mission Viejo on Friday, April 15, 2022. The parakeets will go up for adoption on Sunday, April 17. (Photo by Mark Rightmire, Orange County Register/SCNG)
Brynn Lavison, animal care supervisor at the Mission Viejo Animal Services Center in Mission Viejo, adjusts a hanging toy in one of the cages containing some of the 30 parakeets abandoned on a trail in Laguna Niguel and then captured on Tuesday, April 12, in the lobby at the Mission Viejo Animal Services Center in Mission Viejo on Friday, April 15, 2022. The parakeets will go up for adoption on Sunday, April 17. (Photo by Mark Rightmire, Orange County Register/SCNG)
Some of the 30 parakeets abandoned on a trail in Laguna Niguel and captured on Tuesday, April 12, sit safely in cages in the lobby at the Mission Viejo Animal Services Center in Mission Viejo on Friday, April 15, 2022. The parakeets will go up for adoption on Sunday, April 17. (Photo by Mark Rightmire, Orange County Register/SCNG)
Two white parakeets were part of the group of approximately 30 parakeets abandoned on a trail in Laguna Niguel and captured on Tuesday, April 12, sits safely in a cage in the lobby at the Mission Viejo Animal Services Center in Mission Viejo on Friday, April 15, 2022. The parakeets will go up for adoption on Sunday, April 17. (Photo by Mark Rightmire, Orange County Register/SCNG)
Three cages hold the 30 parakeets that were abandoned on a trail in Laguna Niguel and captured on Tuesday, April 12, in the lobby at the Mission Viejo Animal Services Center in Mission Viejo on Friday, April 15, 2022. They will go up for adoption on Sunday, April 17. (Photo by Mark Rightmire, Orange County Register/SCNG)
Some of the 30 parakeets abandoned on a trail in Laguna Niguel and captured on Tuesday, April 12, sit safely in cages in the lobby at the Mission Viejo Animal Services Center in Mission Viejo on Friday, April 15, 2022. The parakeets will go up for adoption on Sunday, April 17. (Photo by Mark Rightmire, Orange County Register/SCNG)
Courtney Dustin, an animal care technician at the Mission Viejo Animal Services Center in Mission Viejo, adjusts the feed dish in one of the cages containing some of the 30 parakeets abandoned on a trail in Laguna Niguel and then captured on Tuesday, April 12, in the lobby at the Mission Viejo Animal Services Center in Mission Viejo on Friday, April 15, 2022. The parakeets will go up for adoption on Sunday, April 17. (Photo by Mark Rightmire, Orange County Register/SCNG)
White parakeets were part of the group of approximately 30 parakeets abandoned on a trail in Laguna Niguel and captured on Tuesday, April 12, sits safely in a cage in the lobby at the Mission Viejo Animal Services Center in Mission Viejo on Friday, April 15, 2022. The parakeets will go up for adoption on Sunday, April 17. (Photo by Mark Rightmire, Orange County Register/SCNG)
A Laguna Niguel resident walking the trail had noticed the birds and called the animal shelter, officials said.
“We asked if he could send a photo of the birds, which he did, and it was clear these abandoned birds were domestic parakeets that should not be living on a trail,” Animal Care Supervisor Brynn Lavison said in a city press release announcing they would be up for adoption Sunday, April 17.
With a large net, the birds were caught and brought back to the shelter, Lavison said later. “They were in this one big bush. They were starving, they all went right to the food and right to the water.
“These are domestic birds, they would have never survived.”
The bird were assessed for medical issues and given names by the staff – all relating to golf terms.
The Mission Viejo animal shelter is making the birds available for adoption for $10 each.
“I had two parakeets growing up and enjoyed watching, holding, and listening to them,” Brynn said. “They take a little bit of maintenance to keep them clean and fed, but are generally an easy pet.”
Staff photographer Mark Rightmire contributed to this report.
