Sri Swamiji in USA, Visit to Parrot rescue center, Harlem, Georgia, 09 Jul 2013
Visit to Parrot rescue center “Feathered Friends Forever” Harlem, Georgia, USA, 9 July 2013
Sri Swamiji visited the Parrot Rescue center called "Feathered Friends Forever" in Harlem, Georgia on 9th July 2013. This facility is a large avian rescue / refuge center.
Sri Swamiji was received by the facility's personnel - Ron Johnson & Bob Courtwright. About 50 devotees of Georgia and sorrounding states went along with Sri Swamiji to see the center and support.
The center members showed great interest in Sri Swamiji's visit. Mr. Ron presented a short welcome speech and thanked Sri Swamiji for coming to their center. He had trained his African grey parrot to greet Sri Swamiji by doing "Namaste" with its claws. He later presented to Sri Swamiji a wooden idol gift that was carved by a parrot and it looked like Sri Swamiji showing "Abhaya Mudra". They also presented a painting of two parrots to Sri Swamiji. It was "mouth drawn" by Hannah, a polio affected girl who is the center's spokesperson.
Sri Swamiji presented a gift of US$ 20,000 / from Yoga Sangeeta Inc for the construction of a new "large free flight aviary".
Sri Swamiji toured the large rescue facility and visited several free flight aviaries.
Sri Swamiji later addressed the devotees and explained that He was there because of His keen interest in Bird rescue and refuge. Sri Swamiji lauded the efforts of the center entirely managed by volunteers.
Augusta based WRDW TV Station News 12 interviewed Sri Swamiji and covered the visit.
