Wildlife rescue organizations issue warning as baby bird season approaches

The photo of a female common merganser bird out for a feed with her ducklings on Alta Lake in Whistler that won the "wild settings" category in the B.C. SPCA Wildlife-in-Focus photography contest. (Steve Burgess)

Animal rescuers are reminding the public of the dangers of interfering with nature, as wildlife protection organizations across the province gear up for their busiest time of the year – fledgling season.

“The spring and summer months are the busiest time for us,” says Gabriella Wohlgemuth, spokesperson for the Wildlife Rescue Association of BC.

According to Wohlgemouth, in the spring of 2024, the organization conducted just under 200 rescues, making up 40 per cent of the rescues carried out for the entire year.

While the rising temperatures coax animals out of hibernation and kickstart the beginning of animal baby season for all manner of creatures, it is the avian population, she said, that is the cause of most calls fielded during the spring.

The migration of birds back to the Lower Mainland creates an influx of birdlife in the area, as does, Wohlgemouth says, the arrival of baby birds.

Birds at particular risk include certain waterfowl species, which, following the rise of urban development, have turned to nesting on high-rise buildings, as they offer the clearest view of the surroundings to watch for predators. Once goslings hatch, the jump from the nest is a dangerous drop to the bottom unless someone steps in to intervene, said Wohlgemuth.

The hatchlings that flee safely from the nest are faced with a raft of other threats to their safety once their claws are on the ground, she added.

“These young birds are often defenseless, heavily reliant on their parents for food and protection, making them particularly vulnerable to urban threats such as cat attacks, vehicle collisions, and predation,” she said.

According to Nadia Xenakis, the BC SPCA’s wild animal welfare specialist, around 80 per cent of the animal welfare organization’s intakes are a result of human intervention.

Calls typically tend to concern birds that have flown into windows, birds or bats that have been caught by cats or dogs, animals that have been hit by cars, or injured animal babies, she said. While many of these situations require people stepping in to help, there are some, she said, where offering a helping hand can do more harm than good.

“There’s a fair number of cases each year where animals are brought in when they really shouldn’t have been brought in, they should have been left where they were,” said Xenakis.

Xenakis says people often try to help baby birds that look as though they have been abandoned or are lost, but that may not be the case. Once they have been removed from their location, staff must then try to reunite the fledglings with their parents, causing more work for rescuers at an already busy time.

“Young birds often display behaviors that may seem unusual to us, such as being unable to fly or not fearing people and animals, leading observers to mistakenly believe they are injured or in distress,” said Wohlgemuth.

“In many cases, this behavior is entirely normal. If a baby bird appears healthy, we encourage people to avoid intervening as their parents are best suited to care for them.”

Those looking to help the newborns find their way can do so via other routes, says Xenakis. With spring often ushering in more gardening and housework, it provides ample opportunity for people to check around their property for nests. Knowing which branches to avoid when pruning trees, or which areas to keep pets away from, helps steer clear of any dangerous situations, she says.

If a baby animal is found and it is difficult to determine whether it needs help, the BC SPCA website offers information that can aid in establishing what the animal is, and whether a call to a rescuer is needed, she said.

After an unusually warm bout of weather struck B.C. at the beginning of this month, with March 1 breaking multiple temperature records throughout the province, Wohlegemuth said rescuers are now preparing for a busy season that could occur sooner than usual.

“Already, we’ve received a report of a Canada Goose family with their newly hatched babies, which typically happens between the end of March and mid-April,” she said.

There’s much maintenance that takes place during the off season, including the stocking of supplies and the training of more staff, but the public being sufficiently educated helps ensure organizations can run full steam ahead during the busy season, added Wohlegemuth.

“Our rescue team is made up entirely of dedicated volunteers who generously give their time to help wildlife. However, with limited field resources, our ability to relocate waterfowl families and rescue distressed wildlife can sometimes be restricted,” she said.

“During these times, we rely on the support of the public and our community to help wildlife in need.”