Malnourished macaws rescued from condemned Colorado home

Dozens of exotic birds are being nursed back to health in Colorado after animal control officers found them malnourished in a condemned house without heat or water.

Authorities went to the place in Pueblo on Tuesday after getting a tip from neighbors and found 45 macaw parrots, about 150 pigeons and some dogs and cats.

By the time officials went back the next day, two of the macaws had died. Authorities say the elderly owner was feeding them dog food to try to keep them alive.

The 43 surviving macaws were seized Wednesday and taken to a veterinarian. The pigeons, cats and dogs remain on the man's property, with officials bringing them food and water.

The homeowner hasn't been named or charged with a crime.

-- Associated Press

Photo: Avian health technician Karen VanderHyde, left, and veterinarian Noel Opitz, both of the Colorado-based parrot rescue organization the Gabriel Foundation, examine a macaw at the Pueblo Community Animal Shelter on Wednesday. Credit: Bryan Kelsen / Associated Press