Hello! SABR is a rescue in Summit County, Ohio, and was founded in 2022.We accept wild, feral, and domestic birds in need of assistance. I accept european starlings (wild or hand-raised), english sparrows (wild or hand-raised), pigeons (feral or domestic), and other softbills as able.Please check my Facebook page for my current intake status!
My name is Rain Thomas, and I own and manage Summit Aviary and Bird Rescue. I have worked in animal rescue for over a decade, have a Bachelor's degree in Zoology specializing in ornithology, and have been involved with the wildlife rehabilitation community since 2021. Most of my free time and income is dedicated to our birds. The rescue is operated from my home, and for this reason, we do not allow tours of the aviary, in order to respect my family and my residents' privacy.I am very fortunate to have fosters that can assist me with the birds and their care. On some occasions, you may meet with one of them for adoptions instead of me. If this is the case, I will let you know who you will be meeting in advance so it isn't a surprise!Summit Aviary is unable to take in native species. Aside from that, we will take anyone who needs help. Most of my intakes are pigeons, whether they be injured/orphaned ferals, lost racers, surrendered domestics, or birds from neglect cases. During the spring and summer I also get an abundance of European starlings and English sparrows. I do not personally accept parrots, but one of my volunteers does, so feel free to send me a message and I will direct you her way. If you have a bird that needs some help, just reach out!
We almost always have birds available for adoption on a rolling basis. When birds are admitted, they are medically evaluated. They receive any treatment that they need at the time, including a vet visit if necessary. The bird will remain in our care until they are sufficiently healthy and have passed all of the criteria to be ready for adoption. If a bird does not meet the adoption criteria, they typically remain in my care at the rescue - however, if you are interested in providing a home for a disabled bird, please do let me know, and we can discuss if any of my residents may be a good fit for you.When a bird is available, I will post them on our Facebook page. You can also reach out via email or message to see what birds are currently available or may be available soon.All interested adopters must fill out my adoption application, which can be accessed here.A completed adoption application does not guarantee you a bird, just gets the ball rolling. I will reach out to you about your application, so make sure you include contact information that I can reach you via easily.Unless otherwise specified, my rules for birds adopted from me are as follows:
If you can no longer keep an adopted bird, you will return the bird to me.
Birds adopted from me will not be intentionally used for breeding.
I appreciate being kept updated about how a bird is settling in as well.We do charge a small rehoming fee for our adoptable birds. This fee covers the cost of the bird's care (food, medical treatment, housing, etc). Collecting this fee allows us to keep the lights on and keep helping more birds. We will never ask you for a deposit or for you to send money to "reserve" a bird - payment can be given in cash when you adopt, or sent through a payment app at that time.The adoption fees are as follows:Pigeons: $20 for a single bird, $30 for a pair (bonded or just two available single birds)
Starlings: $30
Sparrows: $20
If you have a bird that is in need of rescue, please reach out. The quickest way to reach me is via email ([email protected]), and you can also message on FB Messenger, though I do not get notifications for FB, so in an emergency, email is best. Please include information about when the bird was found, what steps you have taken so far, your location, and a photo of the bird.If the bird is a NESTLING (no/few feathers, unable to fly, may be able to walk a little), please keep the bird somewhere dark and warm while you wait to hear back from me. A small bowl or cup lined with paper towel on a heating pad is the best method. DO NOT offer water under any circumstances, and do not offer food unless you are familiar with how to feed a baby of the species. Do not let the bird directly touch the heat source. Please send a photo when you reach out about the bird, as many species look similar as nestlings and I am not able to take native species.If the bird is INJURED OR ILL (feathers fluffed out or tattered, a limb visibly injured, lethargic, eyes closed, shivering, unable to fly, etc), please gently capture the bird and keep it somewhere dark and warm while you wait to hear back from me. A cardboard box with a towel or blanket at the bottom will work just fine. You may offer a shallow water dish and small dish of food if I have informed you that it is safe to do so.If the bird is a lost domestic species or surrendered pet and otherwise healthy, please reach out to make sure that I am accepting healthy birds at this time. When space/time is limited, I prioritize injured and ill birds and may refer you elsewhere for a healthy pet.
Summit Aviary is entirely run out of my own pocket and funds. This includes every single bird's housing, medical care, vet visits, food, rehabilitation, and in some cases, permanent residency. As you can imagine, this is not really a cheap endeavor. I live far below my means in order for my birds and patients to have the best life possible. So if you have the means, and would like to support us in any way, we are incredibly appreciative.The main ways that we accept public aid are via financial donations and material donations.Financial contributions can either be sent via any of the following methods, given in cash, or mailed by check. Please reach out to me if you would like to donate via either of the latter two methods and we can arrange something.
We also accept and greatly appreciate material donations. These can either be delivered to me personally or sent via our Amazon wishlist. Items that we can always use include towels and blankets, bird-safe cleaning supplies, bird-safe dishes, food and formula (especially produce!), unscented puppy pads, toys (either unused or properly sanitized), non-expired medications, and carriers, travel cages, and flight cages.Our Amazon wishlist can be found below: