Latest news with #babybirds
Yahoo
08-07-2025
- General
- Yahoo
Let nature take its course: Avian Center reminds public to leave found wildlife alone
Jul. 7—MORGANTOWN — As summer spreads across West Virginia, the Avian Conservation Center of Appalachia is reminding people that sometimes the best way to help wildlife thrive is to simply leave it alone—especially when it comes to baby birds. "This is our busiest season because well-meaning people keep bringing us baby birds that are not actually hurt, " ACCA Executive Director Katie Fallon said. "They are fledglings—they are supposed to be hopping around on the ground. Their parents are still feeding them and teaching them how to be wild birds." The nonprofit, based near Cheat Lake, rehabilitates hundreds of sick, injured or displaced wild birds each year. But during the summer, many of the little patients do not need rescuing at all. "A lot of people do not realize that if a baby bird has feathers and is hopping around, it is just learning to fly, " Fallon explained. "It is the natural process. The best parents for baby birds are their own parents—not humans." If you find an uninjured baby bird in your yard, experts say to leave it be and keep pets indoors or on leashes if possible. "Cats especially pose a big threat, " Fallon said. "Even if they do not kill the bird outright, bacteria in a cat's mouth can be fatal." If you spot a featherless chick on the ground after a storm, it is fine to gently place it back in its nest. "That old myth that touching a baby bird will make its parents reject it is just that—a myth, " Fallon said. "They will take it right back." In addition to wildlife rehabilitation, the ACCA is dedicated to teaching the public how to protect native birds. The center's outdoor classroom houses non-releasable birds of prey, which includes hawks, owls, and even eagles—serving awareness for education and conservation. "Every Friday afternoon this summer, people can visit our outdoor classroom from 1-6 p.m., " Fallon said. "It's a wonderful chance to see these incredible birds up close, learn about their stories, and find out how to make backyards more bird-friendly." Fallon recommends planting native flowers and shrubs like serviceberry, viburnum, dogwoods, and milkweed to attract insects that many songbirds rely on to feed their babies. Shallow bird baths with gently moving water are another good way to draw in little visitors. "A lot of people think bird feeders are enough, but native plants and water make an even bigger difference in summer when birds are raising families, " Fallon said. For those hoping to spot less-common local species—like the cerulean warbler or the scarlet tanager—Fallon suggests planning birdwatching trips during spring or fall migration. But in summer, baby birds coming into the world is just as rewarding. "If you do find a truly injured bird, give us a call, " Fallon said. "But for healthy babies, the best thing you can do is to let nature do its job."
Yahoo
09-05-2025
- General
- Yahoo
Thousands of Baby Birds Found Dead, Thousands More Saved After Spending Days Stranded Inside Truck
Delaware's First State Animal Center and SPCA is caring for thousands of baby birds stranded in a delivery truck The truck containing the birds was reportedly left for days at a USPS processing and distribution center due to a shipping mishap Thousands of birds died while on the truck without food and waterRescuers found thousands of baby birds, alive and dead, left in a truck in Delaware for days amid a reported shipping mishap. According to Delaware Online, the truck containing the young birds was left unattended for several days at a USPS processing and distribution center in New Castle after leaving Freedom Ranger Hatchery in Pennsylvania late last month. While thousands of the birds died while on the truck, thousands survived and are now being cared for by the First State Animal Center and SPCA. According to WBOC TV, the organization received the birds after getting an alert from the Delaware Department of Agriculture. The processing and distribution center where the birds were stranded contacted the Department of Agriculture for assistance following shipping delays and repeated rejections from distribution centers, per the outlet. A spokesperson for the Delaware Department of Agriculture told PEOPLE that the agency was contacted by the USPS Delaware Processing and Distribution Center at 187 Quigley Blvd. in New Castle on May 2 about "undeliverable birds." In response, the agency "facilitated the transfer to the First State Animal Center later that day." "We didn't know the size of the problem until they arrived at First State Animal Center, and our animal health staff was there helping the shelter provide care late into Friday night,' the spokesperson added. The rescue center posted on Facebook on May 3 that the birds — including baby quails, geese, and chicks — were left in the heat for three days without water or food. The organization estimated it received between 3,000 and 5,000 birds from the incident, later increasing that number to over 10,000. A couple of thousand of the birds on the truck were "dead on arrival," the post noted. The rescue shared in a separate Facebook post on May 5 that nearly half of the birds it received were in "stable but cautious" condition. "I can't even describe the scene and the chore, to pull out the live birds from the deceased," First State Animal Center executive director John Parana told Delaware Online of searching the cardboard crates for survivors, estimating that 4,000 birds died in the incident. "We think we have approximately 8,100 birds alive here, but we don't have a final count. When you look in our enclosures, it's hard to count because all you see is fluff," Parana added. "We've got a long road ahead of us." Colyd Good, office manager at Freedom Ranger Hatchery, told the outlet that the birds, which were due to travel all over the country, left the hatchery on April 29. "We experienced significant loss, and we haven't gotten any clarity from the post office as to why the trip didn't go through transit like it should have," Good said. PEOPLE has contacted Freedom Ranger Hatchery for comment and has yet to receive a reply. In a statement obtained by PEOPLE, a U.S. Postal Service spokesman said the agency is "aware of limited instances where there has been a breakdown in our processes and procedures with this type of shipment and we are actively investigating and identifying the cause," but did not provide any specific details regarding the Delaware incident. "Local postal teams will work with affected customers to address their concerns and determine timely solutions for any issues with these shipments," the statement added in part. "We apologize to our customers who have experienced issues with their shipments." Never miss a story — sign up for to stay up-to-date on the best of what PEOPLE has to offer, from celebrity news to compelling human interest stories. According to the U.S. Postal Service website, chicks can be safely transported without food or water within 72 hours of hatching. The rescue center has asked for urgent donations to help care for the surviving baby birds, whom First State Animal Center will continue looking after until the birds are healthy enough to be adopted. Read the original article on People
