El Dorado -
Sierra Wildlife Rescue's baby bird nursery is looking for additional volunteers to help raise some of the 650 birds it cares for during the spring and early summer. The nursery is located in a small strip mall in the community of El Dorado in El Dorado County.
Inside in several rooms are plastic bins filled with young birds, all just a few weeks old. Some are recently hatched and need to be kept in an incubator. Others are already flying and will be released in a matter of days.
"These guys grow up right before your very eyes. They go from eggs to flying is six weeks," said Pam Stublaski, director of the nursery.
Many are being hand fed a gooey mixture of ferret food, chicken baby food, eggs and vegetables. Fruit and worms are also part of the menu. Each of the 100 baby birds has its own feeding chart becausethey need to be fed every half hour over a 12 hour period. Each is weighed daily to make sure they are eating properly. Many also have to be given certain medicines for injuries or illnesses. That's why so many volunteers are needed.
The birds are turned in from all over El Dorado County after being abandoned, orphaned or injured. While adult birds are rehabilitated at the homes of volunteers, the baby birds are kept together because of the intensive care needed.
Stublaski says young people interested in veterinary sciences or animal care gain valuable experience by volunteering, or who want to log some community service time. Many parents and their children have volunteered as a family activity as well as retired individuals. Besides caring for the birds, volunteers can also choose to do paperwork, transport animals or prepare meals. All the birds will be released by the end of July and a new batch of birds will begin arriving usually in May when birds begin to hatch in the wild.
"Watching their progression from incubator babies to releasing them is just a real rewarding thing. Just opening up one of the baskets and feeding one of the babies just makes your day," said volunteer supervisor Dayna Perez.
Volunteers are trained how to care for the baby birds. People interested in helping can call the bird nursery at 530-626-9352.
Inside in several rooms are plastic bins filled with young birds, all just a few weeks old. Some are recently hatched and need to be kept in an incubator. Others are already flying and will be released in a matter of days.
"These guys grow up right before your very eyes. They go from eggs to flying is six weeks," said Pam Stublaski, director of the nursery.
Many are being hand fed a gooey mixture of ferret food, chicken baby food, eggs and vegetables. Fruit and worms are also part of the menu. Each of the 100 baby birds has its own feeding chart becausethey need to be fed every half hour over a 12 hour period. Each is weighed daily to make sure they are eating properly. Many also have to be given certain medicines for injuries or illnesses. That's why so many volunteers are needed.
The birds are turned in from all over El Dorado County after being abandoned, orphaned or injured. While adult birds are rehabilitated at the homes of volunteers, the baby birds are kept together because of the intensive care needed.
Stublaski says young people interested in veterinary sciences or animal care gain valuable experience by volunteering, or who want to log some community service time. Many parents and their children have volunteered as a family activity as well as retired individuals. Besides caring for the birds, volunteers can also choose to do paperwork, transport animals or prepare meals. All the birds will be released by the end of July and a new batch of birds will begin arriving usually in May when birds begin to hatch in the wild.
"Watching their progression from incubator babies to releasing them is just a real rewarding thing. Just opening up one of the baskets and feeding one of the babies just makes your day," said volunteer supervisor Dayna Perez.
Volunteers are trained how to care for the baby birds. People interested in helping can call the bird nursery at 530-626-9352.
