Jimmy will be rehomed alongside fellow sulphur-crested cockatoo Cocky in a sanctuary being established by a veterinarian who was recently embroiled in a battle with the Department of Conservation and the Dunedin City Council over what should be done with a captive kākā.
Three placements were found for Oamaru’s birds after 65 submissions were reviewed following a ‘‘strong’’ community response, a Waitaki District Council letter, provided to Allied Media, said.
The decades-old aviaries are up for demolition by the council after an independent report found the dilapidated structures were not fit for purpose and unsuitable for the birds’ welfare.
Jimmy, two parrots, five cockatiels and 12 doves will move to a new sanctuary being established near Rangiora, in North Canterbury, by veterinarian Dr Christina Abramowicz.
The council described it as a ‘‘wonderful outcome’’ for the birds, Jimmy ‘‘in particular’’, in the letter dated May 25.
Dr Abramowicz had ‘‘extensive expertise in bird behaviour and training’’ and was expected to have the aviaries ready within a few weeks, it said.
Jimmy would move into a ‘‘large outdoor aviary with daily enrichment, training and foraging activities tailored to his needs’’ along with Cocky.
Dr Abramowicz said parrots were ‘‘particularly long-lived’’ and required a ‘‘large commitment’’ which was why she was opening the sanctuary.
‘‘Having met Jimmy and the parakeets at the Oamaru Gardens recently, I can see why the public loves them so much.’’
The veterinarian previously championed efforts to return a kākā, known as ‘‘Charlie Girl’’, to Punanga Manu o Te Anau — Te Anau Bird Sanctuary, where she had lived for 24 years.
As a result of her campaign the Dunedin City Council said it could not house the bird at its aviary, where it was part of Doc’s captive breed-for-release programme.
The council said in September 2024 that staff at the aviary had been compromised by Dr Abramowicz’s ‘‘continual presence’’ and Doc said it would not engage with the veterinarian further, after she raised concerns that Charlie Girl was showing behaviours indicating she was highly stressed.
Other birds in Oamaru’s aviaries — pigeons, doves and pheasants — would go to Scott Tiffen, who already kept a similar mix of birds and had suitable aviaries ready for them, the council said.
The chickens and rooster would be rehomed with Shaianne Andrews, who ran a family farm with multiple coops and a fenced half-acre range where the birds could ‘‘roam freely’’, it said.
School pupils go to this farm to interact with the animals, and the birds would have a ‘‘real role in the community’’.
‘‘All submissions were assessed against clear criteria focused on Jimmy’s long-term welfare and minimising placement risk — including demonstrated cockatoo experience, quality of facilities, welfare ethics, long-term and succession planning, the capacity to meet Jimmy’s individual needs and keeping the current bird groupings together wherever possible,’’ project manager Michael Harrison said in the council letter.
The aim throughout the process was to ‘‘keep as many birds together’’ as possible, Mr Harrison said.
North Otago Bird Fanciers Club and the Oamaru Poultry, Pigeon and Cage Bird Club were thanked by Mr Harrison for their support in finding homes for the birds.
The council said previously no demolition would take place until homes were found for the birds.
The project to demolish and remove the aviaries would be carried forward to 2026-27, a meeting held ahead of the adoption of the annual plan was told.
The independent report, which was compiled following a site visit in December last year, raised ‘‘serious concern’’ about food storage areas not being pest proof and it stated that staff working at the aviaries had no professional animal care qualifications.
The reviewer made several recommendations, including demolishing and replacing or redesigning the aviaries, an increased staff presence to care for the birds and hiring dedicated staff.
Jimmy was observed exhibiting potential stereotypic behaviour: repetitive, predictable and persistent behaviours that appeared to have no obvious goal or function and which may be an indicator of poor welfare.
These behaviours are rarely observed in the wild.
