Wild bird centre in middle of ‘busy baby bird season’

OTTAWA – The Ottawa Valley Wild Bird Care Centre (OVWBCC) is smack dab in the middle of its busiest time of year.

“Now in the middle of our busy baby bird season, our staff and volunteers are frantically feeding and nurturing little ones,” the OVWBCC released in a statement today (July 6).” After a heat wave and stormy weather, the conditions were finally favourable for bird releases.”

On June 24, 119 birds were released back in to the wild.

Patient admissions are up by seven per cent over last year, with over 80 different species, each with their own care requirements.

“After the recent releases, we have more than 200 patients in care, and the baby bird season isn’t over yet,” the OVWBCC said.

Wood ducklings are especially sensitive, high stress patients with very special needs.

“The centre received a number of wood ducklings that were far too young to be on their own,” OVWBCC staff said. “To ensure a successful release, the staff and volunteers went above and beyond to make these ducklings comfortable and feel at ease while at the centre.”

Wood ducks are known to adopt ducklings into their own family.

“But the conditions need to be just right,” the OVWBCC said. “Volunteers scouted areas for the perfect release, looking for wood duck parents with similar aged ducklings of their own. The staff watched carefully to see if the prospective adoptive parents were prepared to accept new additions to their family. To everyone’s delight, they were. Hearing the youngsters, they called out to them, and not only accepted the new ducklings, but even protected them against inquisitive mallards.”

If you would like to see a video of the release, click here.