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Local Bird Rescue Group Seeks Non-profit Status

Avian World Rescue Kingdom is a bird rescue organization that is currently home to about twenty-one exotic bird species, including Cockatoos,McCaw’s and other varieties. They allhave stories, and in this excerpt from WYSO Weekend, you'll hear about some of them and meet the organization's leaders, Doug Edwards and Haley Willis. 

 

The birds that live at Avian World Rescue Kingdom are well cared for. It isn’t easy and most of the expenses are paid by Edwards, with help from a small network of people who help find adopters for the birds. Now Edwards and Willis are trying to get a501c3 status for Avian.

Whether or not the non-profit status comes through for them, Doug and Haley will keep rescuing as many birds as they can. Doug says in the four years he’s been at it, close to 60 birds have been rehabilitated and adopted into good homes.

Copyright 2021 WYSO. To see more, visit WYSO.

Doug Edwards with Romeo.
Jerry Kenney /
Doug Edwards with Romeo.
Haley Willis handles the business side of Avian World Rescue Kingdom but also has her own rescue bird.
Jerry Kenney /
Haley Willis handles the business side of Avian World Rescue Kingdom but also has her own rescue bird.
Jerry Kenney /
All the birds at Avian World Rescue Kingdome have stories ranging from severe abuse to minor neglect.
Jerry Kenney /
All the birds at Avian World Rescue Kingdome have stories ranging from severe abuse to minor neglect.
Some birds at AWRK will spend the rest of their lives their lives here.
Jerry Kenney /
Some birds at AWRK will spend the rest of their lives their lives here.
Jerry Kenney /

Jerry Kenney was introduced to WYSO by a friend and within a year of first tuning in became an avid listener and supporter. He began volunteering at the station in 1991 and began hosting Alpha Rhythms in February of 1992. Jerry joined the WYSO staff in 2007 as a host of All Things Considered and soon transitioned into hosting Morning Edition. In addition to now hosting All Things Considered, Jerry is the host and producer of WYSO Weekend, WYSO's weekly news and arts magazine. He has also produced several radio dramas for WYSO in collaboration with local theater companies. Jerry has won several Ohio AP awards as well as an award from PRINDI for his work with the WYSO news department. Jerry says that the best part of his job is being able to talk to people in the community and share their experiences with WYSO listeners.