Summer birdsit in Northern Virginia/Washington DC area

About this assignment

Looking for non-smoking singles or couples with patience and bravery for nervous animals. Our suburban setting is ideal for retirees or digital nomads, and provides the best of both worlds for people that want the great outdoors but also occasional city nightlife or incredible access to cultural, historical and arts sightseeing. Familiarity with the song "Baby Shark" a plus.

What responsibilities are required of the house sitter

Because of the length of our trip, it's important for the sitter to be able to spend quality time each day with each bird; however rare extended absences are occasionally ok (e.g. you take a day trip, leaving the house at 8am and return the next morning but then spend the rest of the afternoon with the birds.)

They like to hear the house come alive in the mornings and like to know you're settling in each night so it's ok for them to "go to bed." They frequently have quiet mellow mornings and afternoons to themselves with a period around lunchtime to be with their humans. It doesn't have to be a consistent schedule but it should strike a balance.

The old one likes spending time out of her cage and this is a good opportunity to keep her exercised, flexible and active with tug-of-war. She likes gangster rap.

The rescue can enjoy some time out of her cage but is usually content to talk to you while you sit near her cage and read/phone scroll, etc. She falls in love easily, changes her mind frequently, and is a princess but not a diva.

The large one enjoys shoulder time while you read or phone scroll/game; she'll get antsy and chatty when she's ready to return to her cage. This one is a sucker for "Baby Bird" sung to the tune of "Baby Shark" and grooves on Marvin Gaye.

The birds should receive a scoop of kibble daily, have their water bottles refreshed and get occasional treats periodically during the day for good behavior or rewardable interaction. Cage papers should ideally be changed every 1-2 days depending on soil level, not more than 3 days between cleanings. You are welcome to bring them into the shower with you if you and they are comfortableto do so; otherwise, spray mist daily for the two younger ones and alternate sink bath/spray mist every other day for the old one.

The macaw has a big beak and can bite HARD when there is a miscommunication. She is a nervous bird and has some neurological damage, so if you've not handled anything larger than a budgerigar/lovebird/cockatiel, be prepared to be brave - she is a LOT of moody chicken to deal with. The greater your comfort level or experience, the more interaction we request you have with them.

Vacuuming/sweeping for floor debris, dust and feathers will be necessary more than any other task, for the rest of the living in space we ask that you keep the spaces as you found them.

Please bring in the mail and let us know if anything urgent-looking arrives; check the business line phone for missed calls and let us know if work-related calls come through; give us occasional text/pic/video updates on our girls; keep the outdoor bird feeders full, and shoo away the house sparrows from the Bluebird boxes when you see them. We're not big gardeners so don't feel responsible for the flower beds, though do feel free to pick any blueberries or brambles that make it past the garden birds. We have a regular lawn service for mowing.

What are the good features of the property and location

Our split-level home in Burke, VA is an ideal base for quick trips to Washington, DC or day trips to Baltimore, the Eastern Shore, Richmond, Shenandoah, the Blue Ridge Parkway, or Piedmont wine country. There are WMATA bus stops at both ends of our neighborhood, and we are a 15 minute drive from Metro stations serving the Silver, Orange, Blue and Yellow lines. We are minutes from Old Town Alexandria, Manassas/Bull Run, Great Falls National Park, Burke Lake Park and any number of local and regional parks and historic points of interest. A number of hiking/running trails are also within easy distance.

Our trip this year will not coincide with the DC PRIDE parade, but PRIDE festivities continue throughout the month of June. Celebrate the 4th of July like a local, by attending the Capitol 4th Concert dress rehearsal on July 3 on the Capitol lawn, or watching the fireworks display on July 4 in Potomac Park, directly across the river from the Lincoln Memoral (accessible via Arlington Cemetery metro station).

Our home is cozy but adequate - you'll stay in the master bedroom on our new Purple brand queen-sized mattress with a full bath en-suite and an additional full bath in the hall. Our full kitchen includes a mobile island, gas stove, dishwasher and standalone ice maker. Kitchen, dining and living area are shared space with our three parrots, making it easy to include them in your daily routine.

Our den includes a large screen tv with Prime, Netflix, Hulu, Disney, Paramount Plus and HBO/Max streaming; a large variety of puzzles and mass-market as well as niche board games. We work from home, so you'll enjoy robust WiFi and also have access to a remote work setup - quickly connect your laptop to swing-out monitor and wireless mouse and keyboard with a simple USB-C cable connection. We are currently transitioning our office and expect you will also have access to a dedicated desk with two additional monitors and b&w printer.

Our partially shaded back yard includes a dining patio, fire pit and hammock. Washer and dryer are available in the basement as well as home gym equipment with streaming tv. (Bowflex, rowing machine, hand weights, Wavemaster for sure; elliptical and treadmill pending repair status as of our travel dates.) Our quiet neighborhood boasts a small fishing/boating (no swimming) lake and surrounding walking path, and the seasonal community pool is accessible directly through our back gate.

You'll have access to a small women's and large men's hybrid bikes. We can discuss use of our 4WD Jeep and electric commuter car.

What does the house sitter need to consider before applying for this assignment

If you have only handled budgies/cockatiels/lovebirds, this sit may be a challenge. These birds can be LOUD, so remote work is perfectly doable, but if you anticipate phone/video calls, consider taking those outside or at a coffee shop.

We're looking for someone who can commit to the full dates, and because of the length of the stay, ideally would be able to come a day early to get an introduction to the house and birds to make your stay and their care easy and enjoyable for all.

Can I bring my own pets?

No, sorry.

Enlarge map