Once again, it is time to gear up for the baby season. Babies begin to trickle in mid- to late March and then full swing all of April through late August. Just to give everyone an idea of what a single day is like here at the Facility, allow me to share with you:

8:00 a.m. Volunteers arrive an hour before we open to the public, as this is necessary to begin the tedious job of feeding loud starving baby birds every 30 minutes or so. It takes that hour to "ourselves" to quiet the decibel level so that we can hear each other, hear the doorbell, and hear the phone ring.

 9:00 a.m. The doorbell begins to ring. Volunteers take whatever little critter the public has and places it in our "makeshift nests" or kennels. Oh...by the way, did I mention that it is not uncommon to receive a nest of 3-7 baby birds each time, all day long, everyday! Maybe the babies will have been kept warm -- maybe not. If not, they are put on heat to warm slowly.

 9:30 a.m. The phone rings. It is the Police Department; they have a situation of an injured momma mallard and 12 ducklings walking down the middle of Rosecrans Street. They have stopped traffic and need assistance to capture them.

Meanwhile, a cold frail juvenile hummingbird comes in barely alive. He is placed on heat – sharing the heat lamp and heating pad with the baby birds that initially came in. I have taken the information from the police and try to assure them that we will get someone out there to get the duck family.

9:45 a.m. The juvenile hummingbird is moving a little now. This is a good sign. The baby birds next to him are now warmed and gaping. I begin doing physicals on each one (there are four); they have passed their physicals, and can now be offered a little warmed formula. We do this by tubing – very quick, I might add. They seem content. They go into 1 of 5 incubators that house other baby birds – a close-knit family. Back to the juvenile hummingbird. He is offered warmed electrolytes; he accepts graciously.

10:15 a.m. I have found a Project Wildlife volunteer to handle the duck situation. Hopefully, all will be captured.

10:30 a.m. The doorbell rings again. This time three baby rabbits.

They have been found near machinery. The public explains that they have not seen the mother in 2 or 3 hours. We take them in and place them in our mammal incubator, after passing their physicals. I hear a volunteer explaining to the nice man that mother rabbits do not stay with their babies all day. They feed them in early a.m. and then at dusk. The mother feeds herself and rests during the day a distance from her babies, yet close enough in case they call for her.

11:20 a.m. The phone rings again. It’s a Team Leader telling me they are short on space for anymore animals –Yikes!! I possibly have a momma duck and babies coming in!

11:30 a.m. Time to make formula and salad. Formula is made by the gallons twice a day. Salad is made twice daily as well.

11:40 a.m. Doorbell—2 more baby birds; both look healthy. They too will be fed and join a "family."

12:00 noon Shift Change!! Morning volunteers leaving and afternoon ones coming in. It appears we will be short on volunteers. Now we will have double duties.

12:10 p.m. Doorbell—A poor pigeon who has been run over. At first glance he is thin, has a broken leg, broken wing, and swelling to his head. He is given appropriate medication, cleaned up and allowed to rest before the setting of his bones.

12:30 p.m. Back to feeding baby birds. It looks like we have about 60 newborns in the incubators, approximately 30 very ill or mangled animals that require constant monitoring and feeding. Approximately 20 baskets, each containing 5-10 baby birds. 8 cages (indoors) containing roughly 8-10 each of juvenile birds just learning how to jump, fly, perch, socialize, and eat on their own. Some play with their food instead of eating it, so we must intervene and tube feed them – very very time-consuming, believe me! Outside in aviary area we have – wait a second, let me count — 1,2,3... 7,8,9... 13,14,15... 19,20,21... 23,24,25 – 25 cages!! Some containing 10 birds each. Busy place here.

1:00 p.m. Dishes need to be washed – that means all containers that housed our little critters, their food and water dishes, etc.

1:15 p.m. Doorbell—3 baby barn owls that have been cut from trees by tree trimmers. Besides being cold, one looks in pretty bad shape. Unfortunately, he will have to be put down, but the other 2 will be fine.

1:45 p.m. Back to feeding animals – answer the many phone calls. Doorbell rings often – mostly baby birds – all given physicals, all hydrated and/or medicated, then placed in a temporary nest/home.

3:00 p.m. Doorbell—Why, it’s the momma duck and her babies – all 12! Have to keep injured adult away from babies as she may freak out and kill her babies. Baby ducklings (Boy, are they cute) are placed in large aquariums with a water dish and duckling food. We also put a feather duster in to somewhat resemble "mom" and a heat lamp. Babies are divided into two aquariums, but they are able to see one another. Mom is tended to and placed in a kennel facing her babies so she can see them. She seems content now. Back to feeding babies and doing physicals on intake critters.

4:00 p.m. Another shift change. Volunteers arrive and discuss things of the day and what needs to be done. Time to clean off tables and wash cages. Geeze – 6 cages and 4 kennels.

4:15 p.m. Doorbell—more baby birds. Phone. Phone.

4:40 p.m. Doorbell—The public has brought us two baby foxes found in their yard with no parent around all day. Often when this happens, something has happened to the parent. 5:10 p.m. Cold, shaken and scared, we do a quick physical and place them in a kennel, covered so they don’t see us. Mammals easily imprint on people – not a good thing!

5:45 p.m. Doorbell—a mourning dove that has been cat caught. Immediate attention is required as she is bleeding and needs to have her crop sutured.

6:00 p.m. Time to feed the eight baby opossums which takes time, approximately ten minutes per baby.

6:10 p.m. Back to the dove. A volunteer asks why almost all of her feathers are gone, yet there are no injuries to these areas. Doorbell—more baby birds. Phone. Doorbell—Take a guess! Yep...more baby birds.

I explain that doves really have no defense mechanism (such as sharp beaks, sharp teeth, talons, etc.). What they do have is the ability to release their feathers at will into a predator’s face, causing the predator to shake its head to try to rid the feathers. Hopefully, this will allow the dove to escape. This is being explained as we work, cleaning the dove, and preparing to suture the crop. All is done and she begins her course of antibiotics and recuperation. I also explain that cats carry pasteurella (a bacteria) in their saliva which can be very deadly to birds, so we must get cat-caught birds started on meds quickly .

6:30 p.m. Doorbell—Project Wildlife Team members coming to pick up home care animals. (This goes on all day as well. Same with transporters who bring critters to us as well as take them to Team members’ homes).

6:35 p.m. Hanging closed sign up. We need to finish with all of our animals indoors, doing last feedings before we leave. The never-ending mounds of dishes are done; the trash in all rooms has been emptied for the fifth time; the floors have been swept and mopped. The tarps have been lowered. Volunteers say good night after making sure things are completed.

 Now—I sit at my desk with only one small desk lamp on. The once noisy Facility has come to a mild, somewhat decreasing chirping sound, as all of the baby birds settle in for the night with their new-found "family." A half an hour goes by – it’s quiet now. I can leave, knowing that all is safe and comfy, and yet as I walk out the door, my mind is already on tomorrow, a mere repeat of today, that will last another five months! I take a deep breath – another fun-filled adventure awaits tomorrow.

Debbie Beam, Manager
Project Wildlife Care Facility

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