Out for a walk in Kanata, hubby and I found an injured chickadee on a local sidewalk. Bird lovers that we are, we brought it home and found out that although it could not fly it was able to hop around. We were referred to the Ottawa Valley Wild Bird Care Centre which supports the conservation of wild birds, whether they are threatened, at risk, injured, or endangered.
Dedicated to the care, treatment, and rehabilitation of injured, ill, or orphaned wild birds with the goal of releasing them back into their natural habitat…
Licensed under the Ontario Fish and Wildlife Conservation Act, and federal Migratory Bird Regulations, our permits allow us to care for various bird species, including those that are protected. We believe that each life saved is a small victory for its species.
Ottawa Valley Wild Bird Care Centre
Funding
Bird lovers in the Ottawa Valley community have been the primary source of funding since the center was originally founded in 1981. Currently the largest wild bird rehabilitation centre in Eastern Ontario, this registered charity relies on the generosity of financial supporters and volunteers. The centre cares for over 4000 birds per year with a current estimated total of 125,000 birds from 175 species rehabilitated.
You can also support the centre by scheduling a hands-on presentation for your group or classroom. Cost is $100 per one-hour session with sessions geared to the age or interest of each group. Contact JAA@wildbirdcarecentre.org to schedule a presentation. Also available to teachers and leaders (for a small donation to the centre) are additional activity outlines.
Education days are also scheduled in various community spaces, to join one visit the centre’s Facebook Page.
To support the centre with your financial donation, visit the Ottawa Valley Wild Bird Care Center site soon.
Houdini the Escape Artist
Our little chickadee couldn’t fly but he sure made himself at home, hopping from room to room in our home. He first escaped from the cardboard box we prepared for him in our garage. Then we moved him to a pet carrier our son had left at our place but he managed to escape it too, twice, even though I covered up the obviously large enough holes with a blanket the second time. After phoning a hotline for information on where we could take him, we put him in a small cardboard box (with holes for ventilation of course) and taped the top closed. The next thing we knew, he had pushed open the taped lid and escaped again to hop around our dining room and kitchen. After reinforcing the tape on the box, we put him in our windowless (dark) powder room so he would settle down (as instructed). That worked. He stayed there all night until we were able to take him to the Ottawa Valley Wild Bird Care Centre the next day.
We nicknamed him Houdini. I have been told to email the center in a few days to find out how Houdini fared.
