When a bird comes into the Center, a specially trained shift leader performs a physical examination and, if the baby is injured, applies first aid. A Patient Record is started and a number assigned to each bird so that every “patient” can be tracked during its stay with SWR. Birds that require veterinary assistance are taken to one of the wonderful vets who help support our wildlife rescue activities.

Once stabilized, hatchlings go into the incubator. When they have grown feathers, they are transferred to a basket outside the incubator. Trained volunteers feed the babies from 7 AM to 7 PM every day, beginning with feedings every 15 to 20 minutes and extending the time as the babies grow, just as wild parent birds do.

When it is time for the young birds to start eating on their own, volunteers help teach the birds how to recognize food and encourage them to get it themselves. Once the birds are eating well on their own, they are transferred to a rehabber’s home flight cage. The rehabbers monitor the fledglings to make sure they are eating properly and flying well, and are releasable. Once that is determined, the birds are released into a habitat that is appropriate for each species.

Release day is always very special - these birds would not have survived without the many volunteers involved in raising and caring for them, through every phase of their growth. Nature’s mothers are the best for all young, but when that relationship is interrupted, Sierra Wildlife Rescue does a pretty good surrogate job! We release about 85% of the babies we take in.
 
The Baby Bird Nursery is open from May through July, from 7AM to 7PM, every year. Volunteers are trained in all aspects of raising baby birds and choose the shifts they want to do - and they can sign up in teams or individually. Call 530-621-4661 for additional information about Sierra Wildlife Rescue’s Baby Bird Nursery.