Mar 10th, 2026 - Mei Mei, the parakeet who captivated New Yorkers after spending 10 weeks surviving in Central Park among a flock of sparrows, has found a permanent home at Foster Parrots sanctuary in Rhode Island, where she joined more than 130 rescued birds.
The roughly 1-year-old budgie was captured on a cool fall morning by birder JP Borum before an incoming cold front could put her at risk. Budgerigars, native to Australia, cannot survive New York winters without a temperature-controlled environment, making her 10-week run all the more remarkable.
After quarantine and treatment for a minor parasite infection, Mei Mei was transferred with support from World Animal Protection, whose team also used her story to renew their push for NYC legislation banning the sale of birds in pet stores, following a similar ban on dogs and cats passed in 2024.
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