“The birds come first” is the motto at Simbad’s Birds & Pets, and this is evident to everyone who visits the expansive store, fittingly located on Bird Road. Owners Alfredo and Helga Ona say this philosophy, in turn, benefits their customers because it results in healthy, well-adjusted birds. Happy birds and happy customers are the driving force behind the successful business, which is commemorating its 30-year anniversary with a celebration on Saturday, May 6.
“This event is our way of saying thank you to our wonderful customers for sharing our joy and blessings,” Alfredo said.
Look for tents and a food truck in front of the store, which features a rain forest mural on the outside wall. Stop by the event to meet with manufacturers’ representatives and receive giveaways and great product discounts. You’ll also enjoy coffee and homemade ice cream. And if you hold a bird, you’re sure to fall in love.
“Something magical happens when you hold one,” Helga said. “We tell our customers to hold the bird close to their heart. When the two heartbeats sync, that’s when the connection begins. Birds make excellent family pets or companions for people who live alone. They are so loving, so loyal and so smart.”
Alfredo and Helga and their loyal staff members spend time with their customers to help them select a bird that best matches their lifestyle. They also teach new pet owners how to care for their new feathered friends.
“We want our birds to go to good homes,” Alfredo explained. “We lovingly care for our babies for three to four months, so we become quite attached.
Quality control begins at the breeding farm, where the exotic birds are surrounded by nature and fed a healthy and balanced diet. The babies are weaned in the store and nurtured “nutritionally and emotionally,” Alfredo says. They need to be fed day and night, seven days a week, including holidays. There are no short cuts.
“We bottle feed our babies, which takes longer than using syringes, but it is a labor of love and a bonding process,” Alfredo explained. “We also expose our baby birds to diverse people and languages as well as other bird species and cats and dogs. This helps develop a well-adjusted and emotionally balanced bird.”
As the demand for exotic birds has grown over the years, so has the size of the store – from 900 to 5,000 square feet. People come from around the country to purchase talkative blue and gold macaws, green Amazon parrots, red-tailed African greys, fluffy cockatoos and royal blue hyacinth macaws. They also leave with all the supplies they need to care for their new family member. The store stocks a vast selection of cages, healthy foods, treats, vitamins and supplements, toys and other necessities.
Customers often bring their pets back to Simbad’s for grooming services and boarding, which is a joyful reunion for the entire team, says Alfredo. He and Helga refer to their staff members as “the best in the world.” Many of them have been with the business for more than 25 years. Simbad’s team members are known for their expertise and happily serve as the “411 and 911” of bird care, with inquiries coming from customers, other pet store referrals and local news media needing expert commentary for a bird-related community story.
This is a happy business, and Alfredo and Helga plan to continue doing what they love for many years to come. “These birds bring everyone a lot of joy,” said Helga. “Their morning and evening vocalization is a celebration of life — a beautiful sound that reminds us that we are all part of nature and close to God.”
For more information, visit Simbad’s Birds & Pets at 7201 Bird Rd., call 305-262-6077 or go online to simbadsbirds.com.
