Nestled in the heart of Magnolia, Texas, the Magnolia Exotic Bird Sanctuary (abbreviated as MEBS) stands as a beacon of hope for exotic birds in urgent need of compassionate care. Founded by siblings Sharon Markland, Rick Markland, and Candace Tanner, this remarkable 501(c)(3) non-profit is devoted to creating a haven for birds facing extraordinary adversity such as illegal trafficking, significant health issues, or having lost their beloved human companions. Postcards spoke with Communications Director Candace Tanner to discuss the importance of the sanctuary and what people can do to save the third most popular pet from extinction.
They love her. Everyone calls her the ‘mayor’ because she’s physically on the ground, always rehabilitating these birds. It started in the 80s with Sharon’s cockatoo “Sammy” that her husband bought for her. He lived with her till he passed away.
By 2004, Sharon started working for her father-in-law’s bird breeding business and raised baby cockatiels and African gray parrots. Soon after, Sharon realized that she had a calling that went way beyond breeding birds.
Sharon said, ‘This is not what I am supposed to do,’ so she started rescuing birds brought into the Houston SPCA. At that time, she had 42 rescued birds, and it just kept growing.”
The current size of MEBS is 1.33 acres with eight aviaries, three temperature-controlled bird buildings, and three storage buildings. With donated funds, MEBS plans to repurpose one of their buildings exclusively for adoptable birds. This project is expected to cost $30,000.
Yes, I was still working a full-time job, and part time for MEBS. Now, I work full time on the business end as a grant writer. With grant writing, there’s a whole language you must learn. We work really hard in bringing in the funds to care for all these birds.
Tanner travels from San Diego to Magnolia TX three to four times a year, updating their social media, and website. She also raises funds by writing grants while organizing four fundraisers a year for the non-profit.
They came from Hurricane Harvey, the Houston SPCA, out of state, elderly people who can no longer take care of them, natural disasters—everywhere. Right now, MEBS has 164 birds. At one time, we had 220 small birds from a law enforcement seizure. On average, there are between four to six rescues per week.
Yes, their health issues are similar to what happens to humans, like heart and vascular disease, arthritis; it’s pretty traumatic.
There’s nowhere for them to go except for us.
At MEBS, each bird’s story is unique. Many birds range from 25 to 30 years old, bearing the scars of past neglect, health challenges, or emotional trauma. Some arrive with chronic illnesses requiring lifelong medical attention, while others, once swept up in the shadowy currents of the black market, are finally free to experience gentle hands and genuine care for the first time.
Tanner shared, “Sylvester is a seven-year-old keel-bill toucan that loves fresh blueberries. We got a call from a mom in Austin whose 19-year-old-autistic son bought him for five thousand at a pet store, but he never intended to keep the bird because his cage was too small. MEBS has kept Sylvester for over two years. I have found a specialist in Louisiana that rescues and rehabilitates toucans. Soon, Sylvester will be transported to Louisiana, where he’ll spend the rest of his life in a large aviary equipped for his species. He’s had a great life, but he will eventually have an even better life.”
“Quinn is a Moluccan Cockatoo, about 25 to 30 years old, purchased for $800 on Houston Craigslist,” said Tanner. “His new owner knew there was something terribly wrong with him and took Quinn to the vet immediately. He was given fluids, medications, and had both his wings wrapped. His owner realized that neither they nor that vet could take proper care of him, and they reached out to MEBS.” After receiving Quinn, Sharon immediately took him to her avian vet. Tanner recalls, “He had suffered the worst case of abuse the vet and Sharon had ever seen. Quinn had many broken bones (old and new), sepsis, malnutrition, and lacerations. He lives his days in comfort, with care and medications from Sharon.”
According to the American Veterinary Medicine Association, due to high demand, parrot trafficking is estimated to net between $45–50 billion per year. Birds on the black market are cheaper than those from legitimate breeders. Poachers capture baby birds by cruel means by using mist nests and birdlime, a particular glue that’s spread on tree branches. Many of these birds are kept in unsanitary conditions, injured upon capture, and sold on Craigslist. In 2023, Savannah Nicole Valdez of Houston was sentenced to fifteen years in federal prison, followed by three years’ probation for selling keel-billed toucans and yellow-headed Amazon parrots on Craigslist. Both birds are federally protected under the Endangered Species Act. Tanner cautions about purchasing birds on Craigslist, “There’s a lot of scammers out there; beware.”
Despite the vivid beauty and remarkable intelligence of parrots, their plight in Texas often goes unnoticed. Many trafficked birds suffer untold hardships—torn from their native habitats, smuggled in inhumane conditions, and deprived of proper care. Even after rescue, these birds face uphill battles against disease, malnutrition, and psychological distress.
Running a sanctuary for aging, sick, or traumatized birds is a monumental undertaking. It costs upwards of $1500 to care for each bird each year. Said Tanner, “Let’s do the math. $1500 x 164 birds a year. That’s $246,000 a year including land taxes, water, electricity, food, and labor. Just consider the electric bill. Summer electric bills average $600 per month. Winter is between $1200–1500 per month. The annual average cost for electricity is $10,800. We also spend a lot of money on fresh fruit and veggies too, so yeah, it adds up.”
MEBS relies on the generosity of donors to provide medical care, enrichment, nutritious food, and sanctuary maintenance. Community support enables the sanctuary to accept more birds in need and to expand outreach programs that educate the public about parrot welfare and the dangers of the illegal pet trade.
For more information on how to support Magnolia Exotic Bird Sanctuary, visit magnoliaexoticbirdsanctuary.org. For boarding your birds, reach out directly at (619) 379-1779. Every gift helps give birds in need a chance to heal and to love once more.
