Fundraiser for PETS Pantry

From Joanna and Leslie, please pass this invitation to everyone.

Marsala's Italian Restaurant has agreed to help PETS Pantry raise money for the PETS pantry opening soon.

Come to Marsala's on Wednesday, September 8th, 5 - 9pm. Marsala's is donating 30% of the profits to PETS Pantry during those hours.

The new PETS Pantry will help provide food for needy pets all year long, working with Meals on Wheels and other organizations. It will be a life saver for many pets. Here is an easy way to help get the project off the ground.

PETS Pantry is trying to raise $2100.00 for the shipping container to store dog and cat food. Plan to eat out that night at Marsala's, and bring your friends.

Baby Ducks?

I received a call today from a lady who said there were ten mallard babies hatched in her front yard yesterday. She was concerned because of predators and busy streets. I assured her that tehy were doing what was natural and the best thing for her to do is nothing.

However, baby mallards in August? They are normally the first babies we see in April. Why are they still having babies so late in the season? We do still have one mallard and one Wood Duck (we think) that won't be ready for release for another two weeks. But in August? If you have an answer (other than weird happenings) I would like to hear it.

Busy, Busy Week

Sorry it has been so long since I wrote an update. We saw bird number 900 come in on the 14th. Monday, the 16th, we released nine kites. Thursday we released four grackles, four Blue Jays, six Robins, and over twenty doves.

Today we moved seven more kites to the outside aviary. We also moved four Blue Jays, four Robins, one Red-bellied Woodpecker, and ten doves to the aviaries.

The only migratory birds we have now are nine kites and four Barn Swallows. We should have plenty of time to get them ready and back into nature before they are due to migrate.

Today we received a fledgling Chimney Swift. He is all but ready for release. Will keep him for a couple of days to rehydrate, and then put him in our Swift Tower for release.

Chimney Swifts

Chimney Swifts are one of the most unique birds. They are migratory and are normally in the Wichita Falls area from early April to the end of September. Once the swifts leave their roost in they morning, they are constantly in flight until they return in the evening. Their roosts are known to house hundreds of swifts. Their numbers are slow to climb due to the reproduction habits of the species. Out of those hundreds of birds in the colony, only one pair will mate and raise young. Three to five babies a year per colony. Chimney Swifts learn from other members of their colony. Therefore, when we release babies we must release them to an established colony.

Over the years we have had to search for a colony to release the babies we raised. Three years ago, Wild Bird Rescue volunteers completed the construction of a Chimney Swift tower. Since then, there has been a mating pair every year. There is a door on the bottom of the tower that is lowered and we simply place the babies up inside and they climb or fly up to join the flock.

That's one more project that WBR has accomplished to ensure the success of our mission. This year we just released four more Chimney Swifts to join our colony.

Purple Martins

Every year we see baby migratory birds. We have to have them ready to be on their own by the times they migrate for the winter. This year we raised three baby Purple Martins. I wasn't too worried for two reasons. Number one, they normally do not leave our area until the first week of September. Number two, in years past the Purple Martins have gathered in large numbers here at the rescue center before they leave.
I worry now because this year is different. The Purple Martins left the rescue center as soon as their young fledged. I have not seen a Purple Martin in over two weeks. I checked with Penny Miller and she commented that she had not seen one for well over a week. Panic time.
Volunteers Ann Brandt and June McKee were at the center yesterday and saw two things happen. One, June volunteered, along with her daughter Terry, to drive our three Purple Martins to Austin. The Purple Martins are still in Austin. Two, Ann stated that she thought she saw Purple Martins on the way to the center that morning. I asked her to check on her way home and to call me. She called me and told me about a house on Hwy 287 that has numerous Purple Martin houses and she felt pretty sure that she saw them flying overhead.
I loaded up our three and drove to the location. Sure enough, there were three on perches above the martin houses and a few more circling overhead. I pulled off onto the shoulder and released our to join the flock.
Another success story thanks to some very dedicated Wild Bird Rescue volunteers!

Released a Killdeer

New Fence

We finished building the fence around the Wild Bird Rescue property, adding security to the mews and birds.

Killdeer and Woodduck (We Think)

Killdeer are hard to raise from hatchlings.

This little guy might grow up to become a Wood Duck. He's still too young for us to be sure.

Red-bellied Woodpecker

A worm! Yum!

Mississippi Kites

Missi in her mew.

Kites growing up at Wild Bird Rescue.

Nighthawks

A bird in flight is a joy. We encourage Nighthawks to fly around the nursery for exercise.