Ruffled Feathers Parrot Sanctuary Inc.
Where Hope Takes Flight
When History, Hope, and Helping Hands Converge
There is something about the final day of the year, and about New Year’s Eve wildlife rescue in particular, that makes humans do extraordinary things. Perhaps it’s the weight of endings pressing against beginnings, or maybe it’s the universal understanding that clocks don’t care about our unfinished business. On December 31st, empires have crumbled and light has conquered darkness. Yes also, grown men have wrestled coyotes while fireworks exploded overhead.
Here at Ruffled Feathers Parrot Sanctuary in Louisville, Kentucky, we have therefore spent more than a decade marking this particular day-not with champagne toasts or countdowns, but with the chaotic, unpredictable, heartwarming work of animal rescue. And when we look back through our archives alongside the pages of history, we find ourselves in surprisingly good company.
Lighting the Way in New Year’s Eve Wildlife Rescue
On December 31, 1879, Thomas Edison invited the world to Menlo Park, New Jersey, for what would become one of the most consequential demonstrations in human history. The Pennsylvania Railroad ran special trains to accommodate the crowds who came to witness Edison’s incandescent lightbulb illuminate an entire street. For the first time, people understood that darkness itself could be conquered-not by fire, not by gas, but by a thin filament glowing in a vacuum.
Fast forward to December 31, 2015, and meanwhile we were doing some illuminating of our own. Magic, our beloved Harlequin Macaw, had been struggling with his flight recall commands after an outdoor training session went sideways. So we practiced. And practiced. And practiced some more.
We captured his flights in slow motion that day. Those brilliant wings sliced through the winter air. The footage was remarkable-every feather visible, every movement precise. Edison brought light to the streets; we helped a magnificent bird remember how to trust his wings. That patience and persistence sit at the heart of wildlife rescue history, especially on nights like New Year’s Eve.
The Art of Celebration During New Year’s Eve Rescues
In 1907, Adolph Ochs, owner of the New York Times, created what would become America’s most iconic New Year’s tradition. Six men wrestled a 700-pound iron ball covered in lightbulbs to the top of Times Square, and at 11:59 PM, they lowered it to mark the beginning of a new year. It was loud, bright, and utterly theatricalwhich brings us to Kiki.
Our Moluccan Cockatoo has been our official party bird for years. It’s become sanctuary tradition: when Kiki lets out his signature dance scream, the party has officially begun. In 2018, he attended a wedding on New Year’s Eve and absolutely stole the show with that unmistakable vocalization. The bride sang a beautiful song; Kiki provided the exclamation point. Times Square has its glittering ball; we have a salmon-crested cockatoo who believes himself to be the center of every universe he enters. He’s not wrong. Even moments like these become part of New Year’s Eve rescues, where joy and responsibility often exist side by side.
When Service Costs Everything in Wildlife Rescue History
December 31, 1972, marks one of baseball’s greatest tragedies. Roberto Clemente, Pittsburgh Pirates legend and humanitarian, boarded an overloaded DC-7 plane carrying relief supplies to earthquake survivors in Nicaragua. He’d organized the relief effort himself after learning that previous shipments had been stolen by corrupt officials. The plane crashed into the Atlantic Ocean shortly after takeoff. Clemente’s body was never recovered.
Clemente once said, “Any time you have an opportunity to make a difference in this world and you don’t, then you are wasting your time on Earth.” We think about that quote often at the sanctuary, particularly on the hard days. In 2019, we helped almost 600 animals of all kinds-a number that sounds impressive until you remember that each one represented a call for help, a life in the balance, someone’s beloved pet or a wild creature in distress. We don’t have Clemente’s fame or his platform, but we understand his urgency. Every creature deserves someone who will show up. That urgency is what defines New Year’s Eve wildlife rescue, when help is needed regardless of the calendar or the clock. Check out what all they do at the Roberto Clemente Foundation here.
Chaos Theory in New Year’s Eve Rescues
December 31, 1862, saw the beginning of the Battle of Stones River near Murfreesboro, Tennessee-three days of brutal Civil War combat between Braxton Bragg’s Confederates and William Rosecrans’s Union forces. The fighting was chaotic, close-quarters, and utterly unpredictable.
Now, we’re not comparing animal rescue to the Civil War, but we’d be lying if we said December 31, 2021, didn’t have its own element of battlefield chaos. First came a ferret-or was it a mink?-that needed transport. Then came THE CALL. Animal control had a coyote trapped in someone’s garage. In the heart of Louisville. Just down the street. This kind of unpredictability is common in New Year’s Eve rescues, when emergencies do not pause for holidays or celebrations.
So there we were, locked inside a stranger’s garage with a terrified coyote.
All around us, people were shooting off fireworks and guns to celebrate the incoming year.
The poor creature was a mess-broken front paw (possibly from a snap trap), another leg that looked like it had been shot, and a serious case of mange. The explosions outside made everything worse. But we got that coyote into a carrier, got it fed, and the next morning, off it went to Broadbent Wildlife Sanctuary along with the mystery weasel-ferret-mink creature from earlier.
We joked that night about expecting a full-blown chupacabra to appear by morning. The way things were going, we wouldn’t have been surprised.
Endings and Beginnings in December 31 Animal Rescue
December 31 has witnessed some of history’s most significant transitions. In 1991, all official Soviet Union institutions ceased operations-the end of a superpower that had shaped the 20th century. The following year, Czechoslovakia peacefully dissolved into two nations in what became known as the Velvet Divorce. In 1999, Boris Yeltsin resigned the Russian presidency, handing power to a former intelligence officer named Vladimir Putin.
Meanwhile, on a gentler note, December 31, 1995, saw the publication of the final Calvin and Hobbes comic strip. Endings, it seems, are rarely just endings. Those transitions mirror what we see every year in December 31 animal rescue, when endings and beginnings often arrive together.
Our sanctuary understands transitions. We’ve seen years end with exhaustion and begin with hope. The year 2020 tested everyone, including us. Some of our loved ones got sick. The work felt heavier.
But we kept going because the animals still needed us, and because the people who support us-with donations, supplies, kind words, and shares-reminded us why we do this. Every December 31 is a chance to look back at what we accomplished together and forward to what we might achieve.
What We Do in the Dark at a Parrot Sanctuary
In 1853, a group of Victorian scientists held a dinner party inside a life-size model of an iguanodon in south London-a celebration of paleontology and imagination that sounds like something out of a fever dream. In 2019, we welcomed the new year by staying up late with our parrots, having our own kind of party: cockatoos, macaws, African greys, and a “million other kinds of parrots,” as we noted at the time. We’d slept in that day specifically so we could keep them up past their bedtime. It was ridiculous and wonderful and exactly the kind of evening that makes this work worthwhile.
Parrot Sanctuary Stories After Dark
There’s Ray Ray, our Triton Cockatoo, and Stormy, the Timneh African Grey who ruffles up when he’s annoyed (which is often). There’s Magic with his apple slices and his hard-won flying skills. There are the educational posts we share-about unihemispheric sleep, about the Australian Ground Parrot, about the Himalayan Monal bursting from dense undergrowth. Every piece of content is an attempt to help people fall in love with birds the way we have. These quiet moments are part of our parrot sanctuary stories, where education and care continue long after most people have gone to sleep.
The Weight of Awareness in Wildlife Rescue History
On December 31, 2019, the World Health Organization learned of “viral pneumonia” cases in Wuhan, China. Within months, the world would be transformed by COVID-19 in ways none of us could have predicted. It’s a reminder that history doesn’t wait for convenient moments-it simply happens, and we adapt. For those of us involved in wildlife rescue history, moments like these remind us how quickly the world can change.
The sanctuary adapted too. We’ve handled somewhere between 3,000 and 5,000 animal rescues annually in recent years. Each one is a story: the strange creature caught in Crestwood on New Year’s Eve 2022 that had us scratching our heads, the wounded deer that broke our hearts in 2019, the countless birds who arrived frightened and left healthy.
We don’t do this work because it’s easy. We do it because Clemente was right-wasting the opportunity to make a difference is wasting your time on Earth. Moments like these underscore why New Year’s Eve wildlife rescue matters, even when the rest of the world is focused on celebration.
To All of You
As we stand at another December 31, we want to say what we say every year: thank you. Thank you for the supplies, the monetary donations, the liking and sharing of our content, the kind words, and the motivation. For all of it, we thank you from the bottom of our hearts. At its heart, New Year’s Eve wildlife rescue is about showing up when others are celebrating, because lives still depend on it.
Edison brought light to the darkness. Clemente gave everything for strangers in need. Somewhere in Louisville, a cockatoo is preparing his dance scream. And all of us together-sanctuary staff, volunteers, supporters, and followers-are going to take the coming year head on and make sure it’s a great one.
Happy New Year from Ruffled Feathers Parrot Sanctuary. See you on the other side.
– Brad and the Ruffled Feathers Family
Some of our related content:
Explore More Moments Where History Unfolded
2024 in review.I took off for 2024 so it was pretty slow around here but it was still a pretty good year overall. Here is a small fraction of it. Watch it if you wish. Enjoy and Happy New Year to each and every one of you. All of us together are going to take 2025 head on and make sure it’s a great year. All you see from this 2024 video could not be done without people like you supporting us. Thank you for the supplies, monetary donations, liking & sharing our content, and for just the kind words and motivation. For all of it we thank you from the bottom of our hearts. Thank you and Happy New Year! #Neeyears #2025Ready #byebye2024
Posted by Ruffled Feathers on Tuesday, December 31, 2024
Interesting Lunch Time Bird Facts: Half Asleep Birds may sleep with one side of the brain asleep and the other awake,…
Posted by Ruffled Feathers on Tuesday, December 31, 2024
Good morning. Just a simple Kiki picture because it’s New Year’s Eve. He’s our official party bird because our tradition…
Posted by Ruffled Feathers on Tuesday, December 31, 2024
What the heck is this crazy looking thing I caught in crestwood, Kentucky today? Last day of the year might as well end…
Posted by Brad Harmon on Saturday, December 31, 2022
How many people wrestle a full sized coyote on New Year’s Eve with shots being fired all around them? I only know one…
Posted by Brad Harmon on Friday, December 31, 2021
A New Years werewolf?
Posted by Brad Harmon on Friday, December 31, 2021
Last critter of 2021? What the heck is that?
Posted by Brad Harmon on Friday,December 31, 2021Video series continues in comments. Just when you think New Years is over and couldn’t get any weirder with an animal I’ve never had before. Which is very rare indeed. Lol then I get a call from animal control about a coyote trapped in a ladies garage. Just down the street in the heart of the city oddly enough. So I locked myself inside the garage with the coyote. People shooting or letting off fireworks all around us. The poor thing was nervous as all get out because of it. I got it wrestled into a carrier. The poor thing has a broken front paw maybe from a snap trap. Looks like it may have been shot in another leg. A serious case of mange. Well he will have a good meal and nights rest tonight before he heads to Broadbent with the mink/weasel/ferret in the morning. With how things are going this New Year’s Eve I fully expect a full blown chupacabra to make an appearance by morning. I’m probably a little strange but I don’t think I would even be that surprised. Lol I will try to post some parrot stuff tonight but in case I slip and just play with parrots happy new years everyone. – Brad
Posted by Ruffled Feathers on Friday, December 31, 2021
Just got settled for the night so I will try not to overwhelm with updates. First we have this guy. Ferret? Mink maybe?…
Posted by Ruffled Feathers on Friday, December 31, 2021
Birds of Southern Asia: Himalayan Monal Bursting from the cover of dense undergrowth with a characteristic wild,…
Posted by Ruffled Feathers on Friday, December 31, 2021
Interesting Lunch Time Bird Facts: Half Asleep Birds may sleep with one side of the brain asleep and the other awake,…
Posted by Ruffled Feathers on Friday, December 31, 2021
I would like to say thank you. Thank you for the donations of money, food, toys, carriers, cages, newspapers and vet…
Posted by Ruffled Feathers on Thursday, December 31, 2020
2020 has been a rough year. Believe me In many ways it has just sucked although I do try not to complain. My mom got…
Posted by Brad Harmon on Thursday, December 31, 2020
Bringing in the new year right hanging out with the gang. We slept in late today so we could keep them up late tonight. It’s a cockatoo/macaw/African grey/ a million other kinds of parrots party night. Haha
Posted by Brad Harmon on Tuesday, December 31, 2019
This right here pisses me off! Not that he was hunted but the fact they aren’t still on it’s trail to finish what they…
Posted by Brad Harmon on Tuesday, December 31, 2019
Happy new year everyone. It has been a great 2019 with almost 600 animals helped of all kinds. It was a busy year but a…
Posted by Ruffled Feathers on Tuesday, December 31, 2019
These fine people are the reason I am able to help all the wild animals that I do. They are amazing and I appreciate all…
Posted by Ruffled Feathers on Tuesday, December 31, 2019
Magic loves his fruit. Everyone is snacking on apples, grapes, peppers, and different berries. He chose apple slices…
Posted by Ruffled Feathers on Tuesday, December 31, 2019
Happy New Years everyone. It’s not a party until Kiki lets out a dance scream. The birds were invited to a wedding and they had a blast. Congratulations to the happy couple everything was just beautiful. Especially the special song sung by the bride. – Brad
Posted by Ruffled Feathers on Monday, December 31, 2018
Birds of South America: Ornate Hawk Eagle Despite its great range, this strikingly colored raptor remains one of the…
Posted by Ruffled Feathers on Monday, December 31, 2018
Fun Lunch Time Bird Facts: Longest Bird Bill # The longest bird bill, at up to 18 inches (45 cm), belongs to the…
Posted by Ruffled Feathers on Monday, December 31, 2018
I like his crazy hair. Lol Have a great day today and a happy new year. Be safe. – Brad
Posted by Ruffled Feathers on Monday, December 31, 2018
Echo is out and about running across the back of the couch. I know he’s bilingual but I’ve yet to have him say anything to me. Since I took French for years in school instead of Spanish I probably won’t know what he says when he finally does say something. Lol. I guess I need to learn, never too old I guess. Have a great night! -Tara
Posted by Ruffled Feathers on Sunday, December 31, 2017
Hello everyone! We received a message asking us to post a question to all you fine people. The nice lady I spoke with…
Posted by Ruffled Feathers on Sunday, December 31, 2017
Just because they’re in quarantine doesn’t mean we can’t have fun! Everyone’s having a good time playing with the play…
Posted by Ruffled Feathers on Sunday, December 31, 2017
Sweety says "For every minute you are angry you lose sixty seconds of happiness." First said however by Ralph Waldo…
Posted by Ruffled Feathers on Sunday, December 31, 2017
Neiko says “so what it’s 4 degrees outside. A pretty girl has gotta keep her act together.” Love my little wet chicken!! Bethany
Posted by Ruffled Feathers on Sunday, December 31, 2017
Yes I get it 2017 was a rough year for a lot of people. I can’t say it was wonderful either but it could’ve been much…
Posted by Brad Harmon on Sunday, December 31, 2017
Birds of Australasian Realm: Ground Parrot Like many of the ground birds of the heaths, the Ground Parrot is…
Posted by Ruffled Feathers on Saturday, December 31, 2016
It's all good until Sky sneaks up on you and bites your ear! Have a great night everyone! -Tara
Posted by Ruffled Feathers on Saturday, December 31, 2016
In just a butt pillow to him lol anybody else's birds like to do this? -shannon
Posted by Ruffled Feathers on Saturday, December 31, 2016
Thor is ready to ring in the new year! Too bad he will be fast asleep having sweet birdie dreams of chewing up the wall! Lol Have a happy and safe night!-Tara
Posted by Ruffled Feathers on Saturday, December 31, 2016
He takes a lekking but keeps on ticking!! lol Can you name him?? – Marsha
Posted by Ruffled Feathers on Saturday, December 31, 2016
Eagle cam caught this live this morning!! #HappyHatchDay #WelcomeToTheWorld -Bethany
Posted by Ruffled Feathers on Saturday, December 31, 2016
Stormy Grey is so glad it's the weekend! He's ready to have a relaxing day! It's tough being a bird! Have a great day! -Tara
Posted by Ruffled Feathers on Saturday, December 31, 2016
Chaco says "When someone shows you who they are believe them; the first time." First said however by Maya Angelou. Chaco's face surely says I love you. 😂– Brad
Posted by Ruffled Feathers on Saturday, December 31, 2016
Well, in Australia it is 9pm on new year's eve. There is no way I am going to make it to midnight…hahaha The babies…
Posted by Ruffled Feathers on Saturday, December 31, 2016
Good Morning! Shazam is ready to start the day.He keeps asking me "what are you doing?" He's very nosey sometimes! So everyone ,what are you doing??? -Tara
Posted by Ruffled Feathers on Saturday, December 31, 2016
Happy New Years everyone from Louisville, Kentucky USA! We hope everybody has a happy, healthy, and prosperous 2016 full…
Posted by Ruffled Feathers on Thursday, December 31, 2015
Birds of Southern Asia: Indian Trogon An arboreal bird blending in well with its surroundings, the Indian Trogon has…
Posted by Ruffled Feathers on Thursday, December 31, 2015
Sometimes when you're feelin' low….the Best cure is a hot bath and feathered company. In this case, I had a macaw on…
Posted by Ruffled Feathers on Thursday, December 31, 2015
Everything looks cool in slow motion but all I can say about this is wow. After magic's last flight he was not listening to his recall command at all so we decided to practice, practice, and do some more practice. It does look pretty amazing. Have a great New Years everyone. – Brad
Posted by Ruffled Feathers on Thursday, December 31, 2015
Watch out for those eyes. Somebody is about to get kissed. Lol Shazam and all the birds here wish everyone a happy and…
Posted by Ruffled Feathers on Thursday, December 31, 2015
This bird lays the most eggs in a season. It is also the one I dislike the most. Yes there are a few I just don't like and this is one of them. Can you name it? – Brad
Posted by Ruffled Feathers on Thursday, December 31, 2015
Kiki destroyed the wood on his work cage so I had to redo it. I made a couple improvements and fixed up his perches. Now…
Posted by Ruffled Feathers on Thursday, December 31, 2015
Stormy is all Ruffled up and ready to stay warm today. He actually does this when he is mad at me. Usually because I…
Posted by Ruffled Feathers on Thursday, December 31, 2015
Good morning. It's finally Thursday and magic is glad the week is almost over. Just a couple more days. We hope everyone has a great day today. – Brad
Posted by Ruffled Feathers on Thursday, December 31, 2015
Happy New Years!
Posted by Brad Harmon on Thursday, December 31, 2015
Last night I decided to go downstairs for some unknown reason. I was standing in the living room trying to remember why…
Posted by Brad Harmon on Wednesday, December 31, 2014
I hope everyone has a happy and safe new year's eve as well as a wonderful and productive 2013!
Posted by Brad Harmon on Monday, December 31, 2012
Where Hope Takes Flight
New Year’s Eve wildlife rescue stories
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