245 birds rescued from dirty cages in Clackamas County barn

PORTLAND – The Oregon Humane Society says it has conducted its largest ever bird rescue after helping Clackamas County authorities seize 245 birds from feces-filled cages inside a Damascus barn.

The Oregonian/OregonLive reports (http://bit.ly/29sgtbd ) the parakeets, cockatoos, pigeons and other birds were seized Wednesday. Authorities had responded to a June 16 report of concerns over poor sanitation, overcrowding and inadequate air circulation inside the barn.

Human Society spokesman David Lytle says they found birds in cages stacked on top of each other without perches, fresh water or food. He says some of the animals had lost feathers and had overgrown nails and beaks.

The owner, who hasn’t been cited or arrested, told authorities he was a bird breeder. Lytle says the owner admitted the cages hadn’t been cleaned since the spring.