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I don't trust pet stores -- they are in the market of making money. As far as "endangered species" go, it is an issue, but not one solved by domestic breeding (which never seeks to re-introduce parrots to the wild). The goal is to make money selling parrots to private owners. I deeply regret that I am one such person. In generaI, I admit, I don't trust information from pet stores or breeders -- I would never rely on their information. When money is involved, I consider the source. My good friend works in a pet store, and makes minimal wage and there is zero requirement (for employment) of any training or degree, for anything beyond an immediate sale. And breeders are involved in the business of selling parrots. Don't confuse those who mean well with those who are actively trying to save a species (and prevent poaching) and re-introduce parrots back into the wild. Most are trying to make a buck in the private market. Parrots ARE a wanted commodity, but private ownership has nothing to do with preservation of a species. It's simply a "I want this parrot" dealie. And I am one such consumer from the 1990s. If I could go back in time, I'd have NEVER purchased a domestically bred parrot. I would encourage protecting wild parrots by making poaching un-profitable. I would rather see parrots in the wild than in cage. But many here in this forum (like me) have domestically raised parrots and we do our best to make their lives tolerable, hopefully, and happy.

Sad. So extremely sorry this happened to you. I also assume there was teflon (aka polytetrafluoroethylene/PTFE) in the heating unit. Many companies don't emphasize that many pots, pans, toaster ovens, space heaters, air fryers, slow-cookers, etc., contain this dangerous product. I even bought a ceramic frying skillet a few years back, and the small (and I mean very small print!) mentioned it was a danger to birds due to a fluorocarbon agent. Yeah, a ceramic skillet. I mean, c'mon, you buy ceramic to AVOID a non-stick polytetrafluoroethylene-type pan. I am leery of anything coating that heats up these days being used around parrots. So sorry you found this out in such a cruel way. At low temps, not a big deal -- but at higher heats -- lethal for birds. So sorry for your loss.

So heartbreaking.

I had only left the house for a couple of hours, to visit for a thanksgiving dinner. I often bring a bird with me when I visit on holidays; the family all like them. Yesterday, I brought my grey, Toby; he talks a lot, eats anything, very well behaved, doesn't bite. So he's good company wherever I go out. But when I came home, my pionus was dead on the bottom of his cage. The space heater, a STANLEY St-221A-120, was spewing out putrid smelling hot air out of it's front vent. No smoke, but the stench was terrible. The power switch was fuzed solid, I couldn't turn it off, so I unplugged it and tossed it in the back yard. My gray, Toby, had stayed at my sister's house for the weekend. It was a lucky decision. But my pionus, Max, was dead. I don't know what went wrong; the heater had functioned normally for a few years without incident. There had been no warning that this might happen. I only left it on because I might be late coming home, and I didn't want it to get too cold for him. I'm just posting, so others know it's not a good type heater to use. We all believe that electric is safer than gas, oil, kerosene, or propane. Well, apparently, not always. Be safe. Don't let what happened to us, happen to you. I will miss my Max. He was only 28, in good health, playful, and friendly. RIP Max. Here's the link for the offending heater: https://www.amazon.com/STANLEY-ST-221A-120-Profile-Electric-Heater/dp/B07L36CXJB/ref=sr_1_5?dchild=1&keywords=STANLEY+ST-221A-120+Electric+Heater&qid=1606507570&sr=8-5 And a pic