The new MARS Wildlife Rescue hospital is receiving baby bird patients as final touches were being made to the building.
Volunteers worked tirelessly in the past two weeks to get the baby bird enclosure ready for the annual spring influx of young birds.
“There was plenty of work needed to complete our hospital and get it ready to receive our patients,” said Warren Warttig, MARS Wildlife Rescue president.
A small bird landed on Warren’s shoulder while he was working on the building, something not recommended by MARS. “No one should have a robin on their shoulder, ever,” he said. “It is important that we keep wild things wild. And wherever possible, we should not interfere with or keep wild animals.”
Spring is baby bird season, one of the busiest times of the year. Fledgling birds are often pushed from the nest so they can learn to fend for themselves. Well-meaning people will rescue these baby birds assuming they have been abandoned. As of last week, MARS had nearly 40 baby birds under care.
“At this time of year, we usually advise people to keep their cats inside and watch the young robins from a distance,” Warttig said. “If the robin is in danger, or there is no sign of the parents, it is only then that we ask them to rescue the birds.”
Now MARS needs earth worms, meal worms and berries to help feed the growing number of baby birds in care.
“Construction of the new MARS hospital complex isn’t complete yet and fundraising continues,” Warttig said. “But the baby birds have started coming. It’s a busy time.”
MARS, a licensed and regulated facility, provides rescue, rehabilitation, recovery and release for injured and orphaned wildlife in central and northern Vancouver Island. With a caseload that has grown to 700 per year, this volunteer-powered, donor funded organization has opened a new, hospital and recovery centre in the Comox Valley.