About Us
Our History
The Wilson Parrot Foundation was founded by retired firefighter, Brian Wilson, who spent 24 years of service dedicated to saving lives in the suburban Washington, D.C. area. Brian's interest in parrots began in childhood, and as an adult, he acquired his first parrot, Rocco, a green-winged macaw, followed by Daisy, a blue & gold macaw, and Rosebud, a double-yellow-headed amazon.​ (Pictured on this page is Brian with his 3 original birds.)
In 1995, shortly after retiring from the fire department, Brian's desire to continue helping others, coupled with his compassion for parrots and his skill with handling and training them, led him down a new path - to spend his retirement days teaching fire and public safety classes. Bringing along his three parrots as an entertaining way to deliver a serious message, Brian began making public appearances at daycare centers and nursing homes. The combination proved to be successful. He taught his green-winged macaw, Rocco, to stop, drop, and roll, to illustrate what to do in case one's clothing ever caught on fire.​
However, later in 1995, a devastating automobile accident left Brian with permanent disabilities, the loss of his beloved Rocco, and a long road to recovery. Over time, he regained his ability to walk and talk, but credits his amazing progress to his love for his parrots. Following his recovery, Brian became re-committed to helping people and parrots live happier and healthier lives and in 1999, established the Wilson Parrot Foundation where he began rescuing, rehabilitating, and rehoming parrots in need.
What We Do
The Wilson Parrot Foundation is a registered 501(c)(3) nonprofit parrot rescue and sanctuary located in Damascus, Maryland. We are an all-volunteer organization dedicated to rescuing, rehabilitating, and re-homing companion parrots to qualified homes, and educating the public and potential adopters on the special needs of parrots.
​
Parrots come to us from a variety of circumstances. Some come from homes whose owners can no longer care for them, while others have been abandoned or rescued from neglectful circumstances. Regardless of their background, we aim to help them thrive with proper care.
We provide a clean and well-maintained environment with ample room in which to roam and play. We have 3 aviaries for our larger birds, with access to outdoor play areas when the weather permits. The birds are fed a nutritious diet, supplemented daily by fresh fruits and vegetables. Before entering our facility, they are tested for contagious diseases.
​
We are committed to ensuring the best possible outcome for each bird. In some cases, we've determined that a particular bird would be best served if adopted to a qualified home. In other cases, we have determined that life at the sanctuary is best for the bird. Many factors play into this decision.
If you are interested in volunteering or adopting, please visit our Volunteer and Adoption pages for more information.