The national shortage of volunteers also affects the bird sanctuary in Erica. The World of Birds Foundation is the only large shelter for birds in the Netherlands and has almost two thousand. “Unfortunately, at the moment we don’t have the people to take care of any more animals,” says founder Michel van der Plas. That is why there is a recording stop.
“There will probably be no more room for new animals until the end of the year,” says founder Michel van der Plas, as he walks through the greenhouse of the shelter. There is not a moment of silence around him. As he walks by, a number of parrots follow him through the bars of the loft. “They are very intelligent, curious animals,” says Van der Plas.
More than 25 years ago he started caring for parrots, now a hobby that has gotten out of hand. The shelter has been in Erica for a number of years and they take in not only parrots, but all kinds of birds. Some permanently, others only because the owners are on vacation. “More and more people can now find us, also because we are the only large shelter in the Netherlands.”
The number of volunteers does not grow with the number of birds. That is why the shelter took the decision to stop admissions. “A difficult choice, but the only one,” explains the chairman.