Workers rescue 4 baby birds
By Joanna Fitzgerald | Director of the von Arx Wildlife Hospital
Four Carolina wrens were among the 121 animals admitted to the von Arx Wildlife Hospital at the Conservancy of Southwest Florida this past week.
The nestling wrens were displaced when a trailer containing a large metal toolbox was prepared for transport. As items were pulled from the toolbox, the wren nest, containing four nestlings, fell to the trailer floor. The workers involved were incredibly concerned for the wrens; within 10 minutes their rescuer was at the von Arx Wildlife Hospital, eager to ensure the nestlings weren’t injured.
The wrens were examined and found to be in good condition. The rescuer agreed to allow staff to try and renest the babies. The difficulty of the situation was that the trailer was gone; if the parents were located, an artificial nest box would need to be placed in the area where the trailer had been parked.
Once finished with morning patient care responsibilities, staff gathered the wrens and headed to the nesting site. Only a couple hours had passed but a search of the entire yard did not reveal any sight or sounds that indicated the adult wrens were nearby. Hating to give up, staff returned to the site one more time at the end of the workday; still no sign of the adult wrens.
Renestings take time but if successful, there is nothing better than having young wildlife raised in the wild by their parents. Adults teach their babies how to forage, how to identify and evade predators and every other skill necessary to fend for themselves. While the adult wrens weren’t located, there was some peace of mind knowing staff had done all they could to try and keep the wren family intact.
The folks who rescued the wrens deserve recognition for making the health and needs of the nestling wrens their top priority. They were incredibly caring and didn’t waste any time getting the delicate nestlings to the hospital so they could receive professional care from licensed wildlife rehabilitators.
If you find a young wild animal, do not offer home health care. Wild animal babies have very specific nutritional and husbandry requirements. Improper food can literally cost a baby animal its life. Please, call the wildlife hospital immediately if you encounter an animal you believe is sick, injured or orphaned. Staff will provide advice on the appropriate course of action.
Recent Releases
A Florida box turtle, a mourning dove, four gopher tortoises, three eastern cottontails, an anhinga, three common grackles, two northern mockingbirds, an eastern screech owl, five brown pelicans and a double-crested cormorant and were released this past week.
This week a young red-shouldered hawk was reunited with its parents thanks to Ian Orlikoff, owner of Signature Tree Care, who donated his time and services to renest the “downed” nestling.
Homeowners in Bonita saw the young hawk outside their lanai window. The hawk was brought to the von Arx Wildlife hospital, monitored for any signs of injury and cleared for renesting when no injuries were noted.
Wildlife Hospital Volunteer Susan Ferretti met Ian at the property in Bonita. The crew from Signature Tree Care was prepared, even when the renesting was delayed after a red light runner hit their vehicle! Once on site, the crew attached the nest basket to the nest tree and set the young hawk in the basket. The team saw an adult hawk nearby as they left the area.
Opportunities to Help
There are many ways to remain engaged and support the Conservancy. Become a member, donate and visit our website at www.conservancy.org. Learn about the Conservancy’s work to protect Southwest Florida’s water, land, wildlife and future.
