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Birds
While we rescue and rehabilitate a wide variety of birds, from large raptors to tiny songbirds, we only do so when there is no other option. We are primarily a rescue and rehab facility for mammals. However, we do care for baby birds (who must be hand fed every half hour), as well as injured adult birds like owls, vultures, crows and starlings. We provide the medical care and recovery time they need to successfully return to the wild.
The story of these three little goslings sounds like a fairy tale. Luckily, it has a happy ending. One day, a man stole three eggs from a nest, incubated them at home and waited for the "turkeys" to hatch. When he saw they were geese, he didn't want them and we were happy to take them in. We raised them and released them on the sanctuary's pond, where many wild Canada geese come to nest in the spring. Our little foundlings made friends with the wild geese and, in the fall, left with their new family.
Five tiny, featherless baby crows miraculously survived an 80-foot fall when their pine tree home was cut down. By the time they got to us, they were ice cold and their prognosis was bleak. Sadly, three passed away but, with a lot of hard work, we were able to save two! Baby birds eat about every half hour during daylight hours, so trying to care for these little hatchlings was a huge undertaking. Nonetheless, they were such a joy to raise and we were thrilled to release two healthy, strong crows!
Vinnie is a turkey vulture, also known as a buzzard. He was found weak, unable to fly, dangerously thin, with a broken leg. After surgery and a long recovery, Vinnie was returned to the wild.
Turkey vultures are nature's clean up crew and are commonly seen along roadsides picking on carrion (dead animals). Unlike most birds, they have an amazing sense of smell. They can find freshly deceased animals from the gas (ethyl mercaptan) that is given off shortly after death. Though omnivores, turkey vultures prefer carrion.
Their name comes from the Latin word "vulturus' meaning 'tearer,' which is exactly how they obtain their food, using the sharp hook at the end of their beak.