There’s a different kind of flock at the Kunzang Palyul Chöling Buddhist temple in Poolesville — 36 formerly abused and neglected tropical birds who have come to roost in the organization’s newly constructed Garuda Aviary.

‘‘We want to teach people to take care of their parrots, but ultimately they shouldn’t be kept as pets,” Christopher Zeoli, the birds’ main caretaker, said over the flock’s raucous squawking. Zeoli, who goes by the Buddhist name of Ridgzen and spends every day with the birds, moved from Arizona to stay with his feathered family, who view him as the group’s alpha male.

Damara, a hyacinth macaw with a massive 40-inch wing span, has taken a particular shining to him and views Zeoli as her mate. The royal-blue bird, which can crack a palm nut in two with laser-like precision, often sits by Zeoli’s feet as he prepares the day’s nuts, seeds, grains, fruits and vegetables.

Garuda Aviary, named after a sacred bird in Buddhist mythology that represents overcoming obstacles, was founded in Arizona by Jetsunma Ahkön Lhamo, who is the spiritual leader of a temple in Arizona as well as Poolesville. She founded the Arizona aviary about 10 years ago after she received a Moluccan cockatoo from its former owner, who could no longer handle its screams.

Parrots and other exotic birds live 30 to 80 years, depending on the species, and can reach the intellectual development of a toddler.

‘‘Basically what happens with these birds, these people fall in love with them but they don’t realize they’re perpetual two-year-olds,” said aviary Director Pema Mallu, a Buddhist nun and holistic vet who moved from Arizona to Poolesville nine months ago. ‘‘...They sit in these pretty cages with nothing to do.”

The new aviary, situated to the side of the temple’s 72-acre property, features a food preparation area, a workshop where Zeoli makes toys and habitats for his charges and separate living quarters and isolation rooms for the dander and non-dander birds. The birds live in large, specially crafted cages, and some are paired with mates for socialization.

The work is far from complete. Supporters are raising money to build a large outdoor aviary where the birds can spread their wings, mingle and rinse off underneath an automatic misting system.

‘‘They just look like wet dogs, but they’re so happy,” Zeoli said with a laugh.

Once the outdoor aviary is built, occasional visitors will be able to visit the flock. Many of Garuda’s charges have experience with people, Zeoli said, but even the most secure of birds feel threatened around strangers when in their cages.

Tending for the nonprofit aviary’s cockatoos, parrots, macaws and conures doesn’t come cheap. The outdoor aviary is expected to cost $15,000, and caring for the birds runs well over $2,000 a month, Mallu said. The aviary needs a $4,000 propane backup generator and $14,000 for landscaping and for concrete patios where cages are cleaned.

Though the aviary has had to turn away some new birds during construction, the caretakers couldn’t resist four new residents they’ve taken in to join the birds who came east.

‘‘We always make room,” Mallu said.