Wild Care April Duck Tales

APRIL 2025

Welcome Back Feathered Friends!

SPRING HAS SPRUNG: The weather is finally feeling spring-like, and our Wildlife Clinic and Nursery is ready for the busy baby animal season. Some of our resident birds like Carolina Wrens and House Finches, have begun nesting. These two species love to nest near human dwellings, especially in door wreaths, hanging plants, and under the shrink wrap of dormant boats. Discourage boat nesting activity by sealing up shrink-wrap and placing pool noodles into trailer kingpin boxes.

Migratory songbirds are beginning to arrive. There are many ways you can protect their journey. Follow our tips for preventing WINDOW STRIKES. Avoid unnecessary outdoor lighting which disorients birds while migrating. Keep your bird feeding stations clean, (1/10 bleach to water solution weekly, rinse and dry thoroughly) and change your hummingbird nectar frequently - every 2 to three days during warm weather.

The most effective ways to welcome back our songbirds is to plant native plants that provide food, shelter and nesting options throughout the season. Keep cats indoors. Go pesticide free in your backyard, and "leave the leaves". Leaves are natures compost pile - filled with invertebrates that birds and other animals depend upon especially in the spring. These simple actions can save many lives. Skip the yard work this spring. It's for the birds!

Stephanie Ellis,

Executive Director

PHOTO House Finch

Eversource Provides Osprey Managment Plan to Avoid Nesting Issues

One of Cape Cod’s most noticeable signs of Spring is the return of the Osprey to their nesting sites. Many of these beautiful birds fly over 3,000 miles each year to return here to raise their young. Osprey nests are enormous, and can weigh up to several hundred pounds. These tremendous nests perched high above with a commanding view, need a strong support to hold their weight. Osprey will often build them on top of active utility poles. This can be a very dangerous place for the Osprey and can also cause service issues for utility customers. Eversource MA has an Osprey management plan in place, and is there to work with members of the community to prevent dangerous nesting situations and potential service interruptions for it's customers.

Eversource Osprey Management Plan and FAQs

To report a nest: osprey@eversource.com

To report injured or deceased Osprey:

Wild Care Cape Cod: 508-240-2255

Cape Wildlife Center: 508-362-0111

The Crosby Mansion

Tea party and fascinator hat contest

Celebrate Moms and Wildlife at a Special Mother's Day Weekend Tea Party

Saturday, May 10th

4pm til 6pm

The Crosby Mansion, Brewster

Tea Party highlights include:

• Tea Service featuring vegan

finger sandwiches, savories and sweets

• Wild Care’s Director Stephanie Ellis talks

about wildlife moms and Chimney Swifts

• Docent-led historic mansion tours

• Tea party hat contest

• Photos by Lydia Leclair Photography

Seating is limited.

Everyone is welcome.

More Information

GET TICKETS HERE

EVENT SPONSORS

Lisa Holt & Michael Brown

Judyth and Dan Katz

BABIES! BABIES! BABIES!

21 Eastern Gray Squirrels and Counting

We currently have 21 orphaned Eastern Gray Squirrels in our nursery. Young squirrels are a lot of work... and depending on their age and health, can require round-the-clock feedings. Baby squirrels can spend more than 12 weeks in our care.

If you find a squirrel that you believe is orphaned, please don't feed it or give it water. Instead, give us a call. Squirrels are great moms and can often be reunited with their young. Please do not relocate mom. It is illegal to do so, and you could be leaving babies behind!

Wild Care Helpline

508-240-2255

W ATCH as this mother s quirrel retrieves her babies and returns them to the nest.

Siblings from Norton, MA

PHOTO by Chelsea Peck

Fundraiser Helps

Wild Care Incubate Turtle Eggs

Each summer, we receive dozens of turtles that have been struck by cars, primarily Common Snapping Turtles, Eastern Box Turtles, Eastern Painted Turtles, and Diamondback Terrapins (an Endangered Species). Many of the turtles are adult females that are crossing roads seeking a place to lay their eggs. In the event that the turtle cannot be saved, we will extract her eggs and incubate or bury them - continuing the cycle of life.

Thank you to everyone that donated on Facebook and through PayPal towards our turtle fundraiser! With your generous donations we raised $710.00 to purchase egg incubation supplies. We hope this equipment will give lots of baby turtles a head start this season!

VIDEO Diamondback Terrapin

by Chelsea Peck

Cape Abilities Students Learn about Animals

Wild Care’s Amy Sanders gave a two-part presentation to students from Cape Abilities. Participants met Wild Care's animal ambassador Eastern Box Turtle Garv, and also learned what to do if they find an animal in distress. The second session was spent learning about owls, asking questions, and spending time with Eastern Screech Owl Up Up.

“The group really enjoyed attending the Wild Care program” said Cape Abilities Day Habilitation Program Manger Nicole Wolcott.

This program was generously sponsored by donors Doris Clausen and Linda DeStefano.

Feather Friendly Donation to

Help Prevent

Window Strikes

Just in time for the return of our spring songbirds, Wild Care received a generous donation of window strike deterrents from Feather Friendly. This donation included rolls of peel and stick dots that will cover the doors and other large windows of our Education Center. Once in place, these stickers will last up to eight years. There are a variety of different products available, and all of them are approved by the American Bird Conservancy.

LEARN more about

Feather Friendly products

Wild Care Executive Director Stephanie Ellis and Mike O’Connor owner of the Bird Watcher’s General Store in Orleans talk about ways to prevent bird window strikes and what to do if a bird hits your window.

WATCH HERE

Wild Care will be at

the Lemon Tree Shops for Brewster in Bloom Saturday, May 3rd

Join Wild Care on Saturday, May 3rd from noon til 2pm at the Lemon Tree Shops on Route 6A in Brewster. Shop at By the Bay Designs, Woodworks Gallery, Brewster Bird House, Village Toy Store, LaBodega, and West of Ireland and they will donate 10% of sales to Wild Care all day. Shop, have fun, and enjoy live music.

Check out this video featuring Director Stephanie Ellis talking about Wild Care’s experience working with My Generation Energy

Thinking of Going Solar?

Go Solar and Save Wildlife.

Wild Care is so proud to say that we’ve gone green! Installation and purchase of our new solar energy system will save an estimated $5,000 every year, giving us more money to save wildlife! Now you can too! If you are thinking of going solar, give My Generation Energy a call, use Wild Care as a referral when you purchase a solar energy system, and they will donate $250! Together, we can make a difference for our environment and the animals that call Cape Cod home.

Check out our Amazon and Chewy WISH LISTS and donate much

needed supplies to help the animals being cared for at Wild Care.

DONATE TO WILD CARE

10 Smith Lane, Eastham, MA 02642

Email Us I. WildCareCapeCod.org

When in Doubt Please Call Us

508-240-2255

We Are Here To Help!