The City of Hamilton is preparing to shut down the Aviary and separate the flock. We need everyone who cares about the welfare of the birds to contact their ward councillor as well as the mayor and ask them to postpone a vote scheduled for Monday, so that a decision can be made with the consultation of the dedicated team of volunteers who care for these birds.

On Wednesday October 11th the city met with the FOTA board of directors to present their plan, making it seem as though it had already been approved. This plan includes vacating the building, and working with Animal Services to find new homes for the birds in the next 3 months.

This proposal was written without any consultation with the volunteers who have cared for these birds 24/7, 365 days per year for more than 25 years. If passed, the proposal would separate the flock, which is cruel. It would add further stress to move the birds a second time when we build a new aviary IF they adjust to their foster home. This would be the end of the Hamilton Aviary.

Our counter-proposal is reasonable and doable - we want the birds to stay together and to remain in our care while we look for a new building, as we are familiar faces to the birds, have cared for them for such a long time, and the flock has been together for most of their life. Simply, we would like to remain as the caretakers of the birds and have full decision on where and who takes care of them while this building search goes on.

Please lend your voice to this important issue.