Paula N Ashfield

Founder and Executive Director

Paula established the first and only exotic bird sanctuary in northern New Jersey called “Under My Wing Avian Refuge” in 2007.

Paula was born in Italy and came to the United States with her family at age 11. Married to Thomas Scott Ashfield (Scott) in 1999, she and her husband now live in Wantage, NJ.

Prior to her undertakings with the birds, Paula served for 7 years as VP of Operations for a medium-sized electrical company in Fairfield, NJ. In 2000, she left the company to start her own business as a freelancer for office restructuring and accounting from manual to Quick Books and doing quite well. However, Paula retired shortly after she married and in 2006 she opened a bird care center she called “The Cherished Nest”, a boarding and grooming center. As the need arose, Paula found many bird owners needing to relinquish birds, and after 29 intakes, she changed the structure of her small company to a rescue center.

Among the initial 29 birds a Moluccan Cockatoo, named Aldo, like many other surrendered birds who were neglected by their owners, was suffering from multiple health issues; these included an untreated 6-year-old leg fracture, an infection, and liver problems. Once at the rescue, Aldo received immediate veterinary care and was carefully monitored. However, his condition deteriorated rapidly and at the last of several emergency veterinary visits he was confirmed to be in critical condition. Aldo died later that day with his head under his stretched out wing.

Upon Aldo’s death, Paula restructured the rescue to a sanctuary to accommodate the needs of those exotic birds that clearly require special care and permanency. The nonprofit organization “Under My Wing Avian Refuge”, was named in honor of Aldo.

The By Laws Paula had formed in detailing that this organization was not a rescue with adoptions but a safe haven for birds and that the organization would aid in the rescue of birds.

By 2009, the rented house in Franklin had become too small for the increasing number of surrenders in addition to birds who came in from hoarding and other NJSPCA cases. More room, both indoors and out, was desperately needed and in March 2010 the Ashfields purchased a 10.5-acre site in Wantage, NJ that would accommodate both their private residence, adequate larger quarters for the birds to live in temporarily until the first sanctuary facility building would be built.

Paula, a welcome and valued member of the community, variously assisting the NJSPCA, the Society for the Prevention of Cruelty to Animals, St. Hubert’s, and other Associated Humane Societies.

The bird population at the NJ sanctuary continued to grow as there was no other avian rescue in the area, and Paula’s reputation as a competent and compassionate exotic bird caregiver spread within and beyond the community. The stories of these birds were universally sad – in some cases their owners had died, were facing foreclosure, or had become physically or financially unable to care for their beloved birds, others had been abandoned or abused, and still others were unmanageable, often due to “poor parenting” on the part of their owners. Turning away these precious “rescue” birds proved impossible for Paula, since two other rescues had moved out of State.

The task of settling in on the new property was not easy. Along with meeting the many township requirements for receiving a certificate of occupancy and the personal cost of bringing the property up to codes came a series of tremendous setbacks continually for three years including a furnace puff-back that sent soot throughout the house, including the birds’ quarters. Soon after renovations were completed, there was additional damage and more renovations from flood and wind damage from Hurricane Irene hitting hard followed by Storm Sandy, which has left no untouched lives in New Jersey.

Even during these tremendously hard times, Under My Wing Avian Refuge was able to assist with temporary bird care for families who needed to relocate to temporary shelter and those who were left with no electricity, and some who just needed to re-establish their live without the concern of caring for their birds. Paula’s passion and devotion to the birds lead her to establish educational programs for parrot owners, open a youth program, parents and kids days, along with other ongoing programs, which benefit the birds and community at large.

Her plans for the building, specifically designed in the best interest of the birds had to include radiant heat, full plumbing and septic (3,200 sq ft Flex Space) with kitchen, half bath and office space, along with two overhead automatic garage doors and three main doors. To assure the bird’s are protected from intruders and fire, the building has been equipped with an ADT security system, in addition to emergency interior and exterior lighting. The building, wired and ready for indoor and outdoor camera system.

Paula was ecstatic to move and finally see the birds in this fabulous large building in the spring of 2019