Each summer, approximately 1,500 baby birds enter our shelter. In 2001, TWRC initiated a Baby Bird Program which provides on-site care for baby birds. Bird feeders are trained and sign-up to work 4-hour shifts. Shifts run from 8am to 12pm, 12pm to 4pm and 4pm to 8pm, 7 days a week. Duties as a bird feeder include: food preparation, feeding birds, cleaning cages, washing dishes, general maintenance of the bird area, and mealworm husbandry. Our goal is to staff each shift with 4 volunteers who work under the guidance of a Baby Bird Supervisor. With the baby bird season rapidly approaching, training classes are scheduled and we are eagerly looking for volunteers to help us with this huge endeavor. Volunteers must be at least 14 years of age. Preteens (12 & 13 years) can participate if accompanied by a parent or guardian (1:1 ratio). Training classes are held at the shelter, run approximately 1.5 hours, and attendance is required to only one class. If you participated last year and attended a training session, it is not mandatory that you attend another training session to join us again this spring. If you attended last year and you are under 14 years of age, you must get approval from the Shelter Director to participate again. |
During the training class you will learn how to correctly hand-feed birds, the proper cage set-up for each species, and essential shift protocol. Not all the birds are healthy and some require medication, fluid therapy, and hydro-therapy and/or have fractures that require wrapping. These are skills you can train for under the guidance of our experienced wildlife rehabilitators and advance to a supervisory level in the Program. The Baby Bird Program is in operation from April 28th through August 8th. During this time we ask our bird feeders for a commitment of 5 shifts. Naturally, you can sign up for as many shifts as you wish. We encourage regular participation; not only because of our staffing needs but the feeding routine can be daunting when you are surrounded by hundreds of baby birds all vying for your attention. It does take working a few shifts before a smooth routine can be established. For more information or to schedule a shift, see below. Bird Feeding Shifts run mid-April through mid-August, 7 days a week, 3 shifts a day from: 8:00am to noon, noon to 4:00pm, and 4:00pm to 8:00pm |
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