Watch CBS News

Aurora Hoarder Still Has Birds Inside Home

CHICAGO (CBS) -- An Aurora man found with hundreds of birds in his home still has birds in his home, it was revealed in court on Tuesday.

Authorities found David Skeberdis still has 12 birds in the house. Skeberdis says, since they're wild, he can't capture them to turn them over to animal control officials.

Meanwhile, more than 400 of the birds belonging to Skeberdis were being put up for adoption. They were discovered inside his home in October.

Aurora Jardines
Two jardines rescued from the home of an animal hoarder in Aurora -- along with hundreds of other birds -- are up for adoption at the Greater Chicago Caged Bird Club in Villa Park. (Credit: Bernie Tafoya, WBBM)
Aurora macaw
This macaw, rescued from the home of an animal hoarder in Aurora -- along with hundreds of other birds -- is up for adoption at the Greater Chicago Caged Bird Club in Villa Park. (Credit: Bernie Tafoya, WBBM)
Aurora Parakeets
Two jardines rescued These parakeets, rescued from the home of an animal hoarder in Aurora -- along with hundreds of other birds -- are up for adoption at the Greater Chicago Caged Bird Club in Villa Park. (Credit: Bernie Tafoya, WBBM)

Those birds -- including parakeets and cockatoos -- were seized from his home last month after the house was deemed uninhabitable and Skeberdis failed to meet a deadline to get the birds out of the house himself.

Skeberdis pleaded not guilty to a misdemeanor charge in the case.

On Tuesday, all the birds removed from Skeberdis' home will be available to adopt from the Greater Chicago Caged Bird Club in Villa Park.

LISTEN: WBBM Newsradio's Bernie Tafoya Reports

Podcast

Diana Federl, of the Greater Chicago Caged Bird Club, said the smaller birds like the parakeets and cockatiels can be taken home the day you show up to the Villa Park location at 15 E. Park Blvd. Parakeets are $10. Cockatiels are $20. You even get an instructional training DVD and a coupon for $5 off of bird food.

Federl said the Washington Park Zoo in Michigan City, Ind., plans to adopt dozens of the parakeets as part of an exhibit on Australia.

Volunteers have examined and cared for the birds to make sure they're ready to find a new home.

The birds will be available for adoption every day except Monday and Thursday.

Skeberdis faces a single charge of "companion animal hoarding."

The Class-B misdemeanor carries a potential jail sentence of up to six months and $1,500 in fines.

Skeberdis could also be barred from possessing animals in the future. The next court date is set for Jan. 29.

View CBS News In
CBS News App Open
Chrome Safari Continue
Be the first to know
Get browser notifications for breaking news, live events, and exclusive reporting.