Local Man Starts Bird-Sitting Business

Margaret Morton

Staff Writer

Pet sitting for birds is making for good business for large-bird owner, David Stephenson.

The Ashburn resident has been running his business, M2 Bird Sitters, for about a year--spurred by his own difficulties in finding anyone to look after his cockatoo when he and his family were planning to go on vacation.

"No one wanted to have anything to do with me," he recalls, noting that looking after high-maintenance birds is not everyone's area of interest.

Boarding was not an option, he said, because the birds are susceptible to avian diseases and can bite.  "You can't just board them anywhere," he said.

The experience started him thinking: "Why not me?  Why don't I do this?"  At the time, he had decided to quit his job selling large-scale federal/commercial software systems and become a teacher.  He had just qualified and was trying to find a permanent job.  Bird sitting was one of those things he could do as well to make the shift work financially, he said.  "Probably more than I could as a teacher," he said, laughing.

He had owned large birds for more than 25 years and he had marketing experience, as well as a degree in marketing  from Virginia Tech.

"I thought, 'ding, ding, ding,' so I started putting the service together in March 2005 and opened less than five months later."

David Stephenson says he is filling a need in Loudoun County by taking care of large birds while their owners vacation.  He started his business, M2 Bird Sitters, a year ago after he could not find a sitter for his cockatoo.  Photo Courtesy of David Stephenson

Stephenson knows large birds' habits well.  When they're stressed, which can happen when their owners go away for a period of time, they can have "behavioral issues," such as biting and screaming.  Dogs and cats are "easy" in comparison, he said.

So far, business is good.  It also is profitable, he said.  People who know birds tend to come to him, he said, noting he has one customer who had 21 large birds.  Owning a large bird is not for the financially faint hearted..  You can spend anywhere from $2,000-$10,000 on a bird such as a Hyacinth Macaw.  Those owners take their birds seriously.  They are prepared to spend significantly on them.  Toys can cost about $1,000 per annum, then there are veterinary bills, say another $1,000, according to Stephenson, and food, which can be seeds, pellets or a mix of both.  Stephenson goes even further: he does seeds, pellets, AND he cooks up real food, like rice, sprouts or pomegranate seeds, "all things they find in the wild."

Unfortunately, he said, even at those rarefied financial heights, people still do impulse buys.

"They think a bird like a cockatoo is cute," he said, then they don't know what to do with it or how to cope.

Eventually, many birds will wind up in a shelter, which are better equipped to handled dogs and cats than exotic birds, he said.  Other unsuccessful owners choose to give their birds away to placed like Phoenix Landing in Alexandria, VA, where Stephenson is a volunteer.  If not properly handled, the bird can become a "screamer and a biter."  If it's lucky enough to be given to a good bird respite place, he said, it will be trained and fostered so it can safely be taken in by another owner.  "They basically work with the bird to make it adoptable," Stephenson said.

He loves the birds, calling them "a blast." He likened the experience of owning a large bird to "having a four-year old," noting their intense love of new things and exploration.  "It's constant discovery," he said, noting that his Moluccan cockatoo, Magic (also nick named "the Diddler), is very mechanical minded.  "He'll break out of his cage," he said.  "They like to burst open locks."

The bird is good with kids and, as a Cub Scout Leader, he has used Magic in Scout programs and on conservation projects at Cedar Lane Elementary School.

"He's very smart.  He could outthink a lot of people out there.  He's a piece of work," said his owner, admiringly.

Stephenson and his wife, Mary Jo, run the business.  She also has a deep knowledge of a wide variety of pets and serves as the marketing liaison, providing accounting, design layout and advertising.  He has two to three other sitters besides himself, all from Loudoun.  (webmaster note: the other three are in Arlington, Alexandria, Washington, DC).  Together, the team handles jobs throughout the Northern Virginia, Maryland, and Washington, DC area.

The company provides different packages to suite owner's needs.  All birds, if left alone, can become bored and stressed, according to Stephenson, which can lead to aggression, resentment, and feather plucking.

"They like being with people," he said.

The advantage of having him come to the birds' homes, Stephenson maintained, is that the bird stays in it's familiar surroundings, gets love and attention and follows its normal diet and play routine.  There's also no exposure to illness, he said, noting that parrots are very sensitive to airborne matter.

Feeding, freshening the cages, playing with and exercising the birds are among the services offered.  Owners  can choose services ranging between 15 minutes, available only in the local area, to one hour.  For 30 minutes, they can customize the service to their tastes.  A 30-minute, midday will cost the owner $17.  At 45 minutes, the bird will be taken out (webmaster note: I will take them out for each of the pricing schedules). of the cage to be exercised in addition to the other services.  An hour's visit will cost $32.  Discounts are offered for multiple visits, along with coupons and gift certificates.

For more information, e-mail Stephenson at david@m2birdsitters.com or visit their website at www.m2birdsitters.com for details.

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