MENIFEE -- The way Menifee resident Joni Shaffer tells it, "my kids grew up -- flew the coop. I had empty nest syndrome, so I filled it up again."

That's how Shaffer, 49, said she ended up as a "bird mom" with four parrots.

Having come to love and appreciate her flock, Shaffer decided to form The Beak Squad, a Menifee-based parrot club meant to offer local parrot owners knowledge, advice and friendship, she said.

There is nothing quite like owning a parrot and learning to appreciate its personality and temperament, she said.

Her 10-year-old Senegal, Barnie, is like a grumpy old man, she said.

"With me, he is a sweet, lovable old guy," she said. "But only for one person, or else he will chase you across the room and try to bite you."

She and her husband, Dwane, also own a 3-year-old white-bellied Caique named Sweet Pea.

"She is the clown," Joni Shaffer said. "She sleeps upside down, she laughs."

Three years ago, the couple also adopted a blue and gold macaw, 13-year-old Zachary, an obedient and intelligent parrot who likes to dance, she said.

"He's had brushes with fame, but nothing's stuck yet," she said. "He was in the world's first bird dance contest … and the La Jolla Institute of Behavioral Science showed some interest in his (YouTube) dancing video while studying parrots' cognitive ability to understand rhythm."

Parrots like to dance, she said.

"It's not like they are bebopping for the fun of it," she said. "They are actually dancing."

The last of the Shaffer flock is a 2-year-old Congo African grey named Carly.

"She's my '50-50 bar,'" Shaffer said. "Fifty percent of the time she adores and loves me, and 50 percent she wants to eat me -- but 100 percent of the time she's in love with her poppa (Dwane)."

At the Beak Squad meetings, Shaffer said, parrot owners can get their birds together for some interaction, but mostly it's about parrot owners sharing camaraderie.

"It's like a gardening club or any other club where people share similar interests," she said. "We like talking about our parrots and sharing stories and learning from one another."

The monthly meetings last about 90 minutes and include time for social interaction, guest speakers and special projects, such as making toys for the birds. Shaffer said she hopes the group can also sponsor a parrot at a rescue, one that cannot be adopted because of health reasons or behavioral problems.

The club meets at 4 p.m. on the third Sunday of the month at various locations. Annual membership dues are $15.

Shaffer, who is also writing a parrot cookbook, said sharing recipes and diet tips will also be part of the discussions.

"Parrots cannot live on seed alone," she said, adding that many people don't know about the intricacies of parrots' diets.

Shaffer said she is taking courses with the American Federation of Aviculture, and hopes to become a certified aviculturist.

Parrots are fascinating creatures, she added.

"They can be very destructive if they get bored, and they have to be supervised at all times when they are out of the cage," she said. The birds can be "the equivalent of dealing with a 2- to 5-year-old child."

Shaffer said many people who buy parrots do so to have a novelty pet, not realizing the type of commitment it takes to be a responsible parrot owner. She said she hopes her club serves as a platform for parrot education.

James Gilardi, director of the Davis-based World Parrot Trust, said in an interview that parrots are different from animals that might live for a couple of years, noting that some can live as long as humans, require specialized diets, and need stimulation and companionship.

"They are not like an entertaining potted plant you can have on the mantelpiece in a small cage," he said.

Gilardi said he supports the formation of clubs such as The Beak Squad as long as their information is on point.

"Most people think of them (parrots) as being similar to other pets they might purchase, like a hamster, but the responsibilities that come along with them are quite different," he said.

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'The Beak Squad'

The Beak Squad, Parrot Club of Menifee meets at 4 p.m. on the third Sunday of the month. The club is dedicated to providing avian education for parrot owners, a fun and social environment for parrot owners, and meeting other people with similar interests. Call 951-679-1085, e-mail thebeaksquad@aol.com, or visit thebeaksquad.com. Membership applications and approval are required. Membership dues are $15.