May 1, 2021
Thanks For Making Our Art Auction A Success!
Our first-ever art auction was a huge success thanks to your generosity! With beautiful pieces from local artists, collectors and community members, our bidders had great fun trying to out-bid one another and claim their prizes.

We are delighted to report that we not only reached our $10,000 goal—in fact, we almost doubled it! A huge thank you to all participants!

All proceeds will go directly to support our life-saving rescue, rehabilitation and education work.
To each and every participant—from the artists who shared their talents to those who placed winning bids, (and those whose bids didn't win but helped inspire healthy competition for a good cause!), and from those who made donations to those who helped spread the word—THANK YOU!
You are the reasons this event was such a success.
Happy Ending For Two Baby Great Horned Owls!
These two Great Horned Owl babies came to us after being found on the ground—one in Santa Rosa and the other in Sonoma. Both were rescued by Good Samaritans. Since they arrived just one day apart, we paired them together. Having a wild buddy helps prevent imprinting as well as provide much-needed comfort.

Our Sonoma youngster was just 13 days old when first evaluated. The fall from the nest caused bruising on his left side and debris in his left eye led to the third eyelid (nictitans) function being temporarily impaired.

Our Santa Rosa youngster on the other hand was 25 days old. Our exam showed he had a bruised abdomen and the very teeny tip of his beak was chipped off. With no broken bones and just minor injuries, our team gave them plenty of food and put them on a regimen of medications to keep them comfortable and help them recover.
 
Soon after they arrived, our Raptor Release Coordinator, Natalie, jumped into action. She went to the two rescue sites to locate and evaluate each bird's nest. In the first case, the nest was easily located as it had been monitored by the rescuer. Unfortunately, no siblings or parents were found—and with no babies to care for, the parents will often abandon the area so putting this baby back into his nest was not an option.
Once Natalie arrived at the second site, she found a much more hopeful situation. Both parents and the nest were spotted—although the nest was in pretty bad shape due to overuse, so much so that the baby had simply fallen through the bottom! She and the rescuers were able to keep track of the parents while a replacement nest was procured and babies fully healed. With a new nest and the arrival of Merlin Arborist Group on the scene, the babies were ready to be united with the parents.

Merlin wasted no time donning his gear and scaling 60 feet high up into the tree limbs! After securing the new nest, it was thrilling to reunite the biological baby with his family and place our orphan with his new foster parents.

The next morning, knowing that Great Horned Owl parents are usually hunting at dawn, our intrepid Raptor Release Coordinator was out at the site before sunrise to witness one adult flying to and from the babies while the other perched, silently guarding them while they slumbered after their "breakfast".

The rescuers have become avid birders overnight and are keeping tabs on the youngsters and providing us with updates on the family's activities. A happy ending indeed!
This photo shows an old raven nest that has been used many years past its expiration date by a pair of Great Horned Owls as well as the pristine replacement we provided. Try as we might, they still keep choosing the dilapidated platform.

Being top predators, Great Horned Owls typically don't waste time building nests, they simply take over former raven, crow, or hawk nests. Watch this memorable tussle between an owl and a hawk over a nest caught on camera at the Presidio in SF!
Heading Home...
Biological Baby and Foster Baby on renesting day, awaiting transport up the tree.
We could not do this incredible work of reuniting wild families without Merlin Arborist Group!
The red helmet shows just how far these babies fell, which is why each get thorough exams.
Bird Feeders? Soon, But Not Quite Yet...
We prepped this message in hopes of announcing it was safe to once again begin using feeders and baths. Unfortunately, that is not the case...

Though the recent admit numbers of Pine Siskins and Salmonella cases have been low, those remaining are coming from places where feeders were back in use. In separate locations, this premature return resulted in finding sick birds almost immediately. The danger has not passed.
While we're longing to be able to enjoy our backyard birds again, we need to keep them safe. In preparation of the eventual "all clear", please follow the cleaning guidelines below to ensure a healthy space is provided for our wild neighbors. Once we can resume our feeders and baths, be sure to continue the cleaning guidelines once per week.
Year-Round, Songbird-Safe Feeding and Bath Guidelines
Based on: News from our Nest, Veronica Bowers, Native Songbird Care & Conservation, December 2020

First, please consider the use of native vegetation to support, feed, and sustain local wildlife. Native plants provide shelter, seeds, berries, nectar, and insects – all of which are vital resources for wild birds. They also promote more natural, safe, and healthy foraging habits, reducing the risk of disease spread through your yard.

  • If you choose to also provide supplemental feeders and/or birdbaths, it is critically important you clean them at least once a week, all year-round.
Bird Feeder Cleaning Instructions:
All feeders should be cleaned and disinfected at least once per week, year-round.
  • Tip: Keep duplicates of each type of feeder so you can place a fresh one out while the other is being cleaned.

Safely discard any remaining food into your compost bin or trash.
  • This should include raking up spilled seed or debris below your feeders. This helps improve overall cleanliness; reduces the risk of children, domestic animals, or other wildlife contacting potentially contaminated seeds; and reduces the presence of rodents foraging on dropped seed.
Clean:
Scrub feeders inside and out with warm, soapy water, then thoroughly rinse with water.

Disinfect:
Soak feeders in a warm 9:1 bleach solution for 10-15 minutes.
  • Alternatively, use bleach solution in a spray bottle to coat feeders inside and out. Let sit for 10-15 minutes.
  • To make the bleach solution, mix 9 parts water with 1 part bleach (i.e., 9 cups of water to 1 cup of bleach, or approximately 1 gallon water to 1.75 cups bleach, etc.).
Rinse:
Rinse thoroughly with water, then allow feeders to fully air dry before re-filling and re-hanging.
Bird Bath Cleaning Instructions:
All baths should be emptied and refilled with fresh water on a daily basis, year-round.

All baths should also be cleaned and disinfected once per week following the same procedures as cleaning bird feeders.

Keep Yourself Safe:
  • Wear gloves to protect your skin from direct contact with bleach or potential pathogens.
  • Wear a mask to prevent accidental ingestion or inhalation of splashback or aerosolized particles.
  • Always wash your hands thoroughly with soap and warm water after contact with sick or dead birds and/or dirty feeders and baths.
You Make A Difference!
Each year we take in approximately 3,000 native wild birds. Open 7 days a week, 365 day a year, we're here for them—and for you.

Your tax-deductible gift today will make a life-saving difference!
Donate online using the button above, or mail your check to:
The Bird Rescue Center
PO Box 475
Santa Rosa, CA 95402
The Bird Rescue Center | 707/ 523-2473 | Email