Spring has arrived and Wildcare is preparing for the usual influx of baby birds that come into care at this time of the year – from September through to January. Most orphans are baby magpies, but there are plenty of others, such as rosellas, pee wees, plovers, swallows and the occasional kookaburra and wedge tailed eagle.
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Wildcare’s mission is to rescue, raise, rehabilitate and release native wildlife back into the wild. Check out our website at http://www.wildcare.com.au. We have a huge range of amazing birdlife in our region and it can be an absolute privilege to help raise a baby bird and release it back to the wild. Wildcare needs a few more volunteers and would love to hear from anyone who is mostly home during the day and is interested in caring for baby birds.
Magpies are the most common baby bird coming into care. And to give you an idea about what is required to look after them, they need feeding every couple of hours during the day with a mixture of mince and additives. Fortunately they sleep at night! They grow quickly and after about 4 weeks they are ready to move on to a pre-release site where they only need feeding twice a day. Other species have different requirements, but Wildcare can help with all the necessary training, support and equipment requirements.
Maybe you could help with rescues and temporary care too? Our ‘hotspots’ for incoming birds are Queanbeyan, Bungendore and Yass, where many of our members work during the day. You could help by picking up the birds, usually from a vet or a member of the public, and caring for them until they can get to a permanent carer. If you think you may be interested, please contact Maryanne on 0411 422 897 or at birds@wildcare.com.au for more information.
On a related note, many of the baby magpies (and other youngsters) that come into care each spring probably don’t need to be ‘rescued’. Fledgling magpies generally spend some time on the ground when they first leave the nest, while they are learning to fly, with mum and dad on guard close by. Of course if they are injured or in imminent danger, we should help. One option is to place the fledgling on a branch out of danger - or even better in a bucket, with leaf litter in the bottom, and hang it from a nearby branch - and watch to see if the parents to return.
If you need advice about baby birds, or any other native wildlife that needs help, contact Wildcare 24/7 on 62991966
