Saving Georgia's Wild Birds

This year we kick off our 5th year in operations as a non-profit. We like to take time each January to reflect on the prior year’s accomplishments as we set goals aligned with our mission and strategic plan. Last year had the likeness of a pivotal year for us with our being able to achieve the following:

·      Treating over 1,550 patients in 2024, 100 more than in 2023

·      Realizing a 66% survival rate for patients who survived the 1st 24 hours in care

·      Renewing our lease for another 3 years allowing us to continue to invest in our beautiful facility located in Legacy Park Decatur, GA

·      Experiencing the largest number of unique volunteers signed up in one month, exceeding 100 at the peak of baby season.

Along with the data points cited above, there are countless stories to be told about the birds that arrive at our doorstep and the rehabilitation process and care we are able to provide them.

-       The two sibling Killdeer who required a specialized habitat and feeding routine

-       The clutches of baby Chimney Swifts with their unique chirping and 12 hours/day feeding at every hour

-       The tiny Blue-gray Gnatcatcher with the HUGE personality

…and so many more could be told. It truly is an honor to be able to save so many wild birds who otherwise would never have the chance to share their song with us.

We are grateful for your support. We would not be able to do the work that we do without you.

Links:

• Our Website

 Earlier this year, Wild Nest was awarded a Bill Terrell Avian Conservation Grant from the Georgia Ornithological Society (GOS) to purchase a handheld X-ray machine and accompanying equipment and protective gear to improve the quality of care for our injured bird patients. With approximately 1,500 bird intakes each year, we see a wide range of species and injuries, from herons tangled in fishing line to hummingbirds injured in window collisions. In 2023 we treated 383 adult birds–80 difference species–including migratory birds referred through Birds Georgia’s Project Safe Flight program. Many of the victims we treat are species of concern, experiencing steep population declines in recent decades, including Chimney Swifts, Wood Thrushes, and Chuck-will’s-widows.

When a bird is admitted to the Wild Nest clinic, internal injuries, particularly from window strikes and other collisions, are sometimes not obvious with a physical exam. The radiology system has significantly improved our ability to diagnose and treat patients as it is a valuable tool for finding fractures, dislocations, foreign bodies, joint damage, organ displacement, and sometimes disease processes. This technology enables us to perform triage and treatment more quickly and precisely.

According to Nancy Eilen, Wild Nest’s founder, the X-ray machine is a “game changer.” Not only does the X-ray machine increase the efficacy and quality of care for patients at Wild Nest, it also enables our husbandry committee to collect data on the impact of window strikes, cats, and other sources of bird death and disability in Georgia. We hope that the use of this technology will provide important insights to inform conservation and education efforts for birds.