TAMPA, Fla. — Florida is known for plenty of exotic species of animals, but something it's especially known for is the variety of unique birds that call the Sunshine State home.
In fact, due to the sheer number of birds in the state, many of them find themselves abandoned and without a forever home. One Tampa local and her family have been working for decades to change that and rescue and rehabilitate exotic birds in need.
Rain or shine, Patricia Norton can be found with her birds. After all, she is the "bird mother," even if that's a name she gave herself. You'd be hard-pressed to find anyone who would disagree.
Starting her passion and love for birds 20 years ago when she first started veterinary school, she discovered she had a love specifically for parrots, and they felt just the same about her.
“I eventually decided that I didn't want to spend 16 hours a day inside a vet clinic, so while I was pregnant with my son, I decided I'd open a small aviary," Norton said.
Her small aviary hosted about 400 parrots in 2002 but eventually expanded over the past 20 years. Now, Norton and her family have about 800 parrots on the property named the Florida Exotic Bird Sanctuary.
These massive enclosures house the hundreds of birds she's taken in from all over the state. Most of them come from homes where they've either outlived their owners or the birds couldn't be cared for any longer.
Patricia takes in each one and gives them a forever home — a unique passion to be sure — but one Patricia has devoted her life to. Even her son and daughter-in-law play key roles in the family business.
She hopes to continue the work they're doing, but on a larger scale.
They recently purchased the property next to their current location and they're hoping to expand enough to be able to rescue and shelter close to 2,000 different parrots.
Her mission is to save each one of these creatures and teach conservation to all who come to explore her world — giving these often misunderstood critters a new lease on life and a place to call home.
If you'd like to visit or learn more about the Florida Exotic Bird Sanctuary, they ask that everyone please call ahead. They only offer tours and they do not accept walk-ups.