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Carol Akerlof, Director - Phone: (734) 761-9640 - Hours: 7am-9pm 7 days a week
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2011 Rescue Stories
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This cute little male downy came to us with a head injury from flying into a window. He is on anti-inflammatory medication that also reduces pain.
He gets two different eye drops twice daily to his left eye. He is doing well and will be released soon.
Head injuries caused by birds hitting windows are a major problem. By the end of December when we compile our statistics from our new online system WILD-ONe we will know for the first time the number of head injured birds treated.
The perfect holiday gift is decals that are placed on the outside of the window to prevent birds hitting the window.
Our favorite is “WindowAlert” which is a clear static cling decal. It reflects ultraviolet light, which birds can see and
humans cannot. It sells locally at bird stores for $5 or $6 for four decals. Putting anything on the inside of the window
does not work as well as shapes and decals on the outside of the window. In Ann Arbor these decals can be found at Wild Birds
Unlimited on Main near Busch’s and on Plymouth Road at the Wild Bird Center. Both of these local businesses have been very
supportive of the Bird Center.
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In November we rescued a hummingbird that was injured and missed its annual migration south. The bird couldn''t be released locally due to upcoming winter weather.
We arranged to have it transferred to a licensed rehabilitator in Texas. Bruce and Kathy Moorman volunteered to transport the bird. It was released in Texas where
it can remain for the winter, or continue migrating into South America.
View photos of the transport and Texas rehabilitation center
On July 5th, the Bird Center supplied poultry watering devices and 7 days of duck starter formula
for 13 ducklings that were in a University of Michigan courtyard with no water in the extreme heat. Since then we
worked closely with the "Quack Squad", providing advice and duck grower formula. Recently the ducks have begun to fly away,
and that means our rescue project has ended successfully. Thank you, Quack Squad!
We appreciate this kind of support for our cause.
View more photos of the ducks
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Officer Mike Williams from the Washtenaw County Sheriff Department was involved with the recent rescue of a baby Eastern
Kingbird. Officer Williams had seen the parent birds and knew it was not a common bird. He told the people he was supervising
at the park to keep everyone away from the baby bird so the parents would come to it. However, after he left the park, the
bird was brought in to the Bird Center. On July 6, Mike stopped by the Bird Center on his day off to pick up the Kingbird and
take it back to the park to try to re-unite it with its parents. The parent looked at the baby bird for a few minutes, then
left and returned with food and fed it. A very special thanks to Mike for his help in rescuing this Eastern Kingbird!
An injured bluebird was recently rescued from the side of the road in Hasting, MI. The Bird Center treated it with
Metacam for a head injury. It recovered very quickly and was transported back to where it was found. Whenever possible
birds are released near their original home territory because they know the habitat, have mates, and in some seasons
are caring for young.
Watch the YouTube video of the release.
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2011 Photo Gallery
Will holds a swan |
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Yellow-billed Cuckoo
Baby Chickadees
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Downey Woodpeckers
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