Birds of a feather flock together — in this case 30 parakeets, who were confiscated from a pet store by the state Department of Environmental Management. The DEM is now seeking donations to purchase birdseed until the courts decide what do do with the animals.

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The Providence Journal Kathy Borchers

NORTH SMITHFIELD, R.I. — In “Mary Poppins,” feeding the birds was only a tuppence a bag, but for Animal Control Office Scott Goodwin these days, it’s more like $7.70.

And since Thursday, when he become the caretaker of about 30 parakeets seized as part of a Department of Environmental Management investigation, it’s becoming a problem, financially anyway. The birds, being kept in cages at the animal shelter, eat through a large bag in about three days. Goodwin is making a public plea for donations of bird seed.

“It’s $7.70 a bag, and a bag doesn’t go too far,” Goodwin said.

The birds were taken from the Creatures, Creatures, Creatures pet store on Victory Highway Thursday by DEM officials. State Veterinarian Scott Marshall said the birds were impounded because they lacked the legally mandated ankle bands that carry information identifying the breeder of the birds.

The undocumented avians were still in their cages from the pet shop yesterday, but on tables in the animal shelter. The facility, located near the public works garage at 281 Quaker Highway, is well-stocked for cats and dogs, Goodwin said, but not so much birds. Goodwin said he was seeking anyone who would donate bird seed to the center so he can keep his guests, mostly parakeets, fed.

State law requires that all psittacine (parrot and parrot-like) birds that are bought or sold in the state have a seamless metal band that identifies their breeder. Creatures, Creatures, Creatures owner James A. Regan said he bred some of the birds himself and bought others from breeders. The birds had bands at one time, he said, but pecked them off.

Marshall said the birds show no sign of being in poor health or mistreated. The problem was the lack of the bands.

The bands can be important if a bird is found to have a contagious disease and officials need to track it to its originating breeder to see if other birds from that source were affected. Veterinary and health officials are particularly concerned about a bacteria called chlamydia psittaci, which can pass from birds to humans, causing a respiratory infection called psittacosis. It is very rare — the federal Centers for Disease Control and Prevention estimates about 50 reported cases a year in the United States — and usually mild, but in some cases is capable of causing more serious problems.

Marshall said DEM inspectors have been to Creatures, Creatures, Creatures nine times since April 2008 and each time found unbanded birds.

“He’s more than established a pattern the he’s not going to comply with Rhode Island state law,” Marshall said.

“Big picture, it’s a public health risk if we can’t trace these birds back,” Marshall said.

Regan said he wasn’t deliberately breaking the law. The birds were knocking the rings off their legs, he said. He said DEM’s record-keeping concerns were legitimate.

“I agree,” he said. “But what am I supposed to do?” if the birds knock the rings off.

He said the seizure was handled amicably, all things considered.

“They were polite,” Regan said. “They weren’t rude or anything.”

Until the case is resolved, where the birds will end up is unclear, Marshall said. None of them seem ill or ill-treated, he said, so they don’t need to be put down.

Regan said he hoped he could get his flock back, since the birds that the state seized cost him around $200. He added if Goodwin was looking for seed donation, he’d step up.

“I’ll give him some food if he needs it,” Regan said.

jhill@projo.com