Posts by jbird24
Patriotic Patient
by Calah BeckwithWildlife KeeperIt’s not a Bald Eagle or even a wild turkey (Benjamin Franklin’s legendary choice for our national symbol). Today, America’s Independence Day, we received into our care a female American Kestrel nestling. Though she still has a good bit of fluff, this tyke is already sporting some red, white, and blue. This little…
Read MoreWhy So Blue?
by Sara Eisenhauer Wildlife Services Manager On June 18th, VINS’ Wildlife Services Department received its first baby Blue Jay of the season. Blue Jays have always been one of my favorite birds, so you can imagine my excitement when I heard of its arrival. However, this little jay wasn’t feeling so excited – it had…
Read MoreCan You Handle the Cuteness?
Baby bird season is in full swing here at VINS, and we are busy, busy! Though taking care of the little ones is a lot of work, it is definitely the most rewarding season for us. I wanted to share some of the adorable babies we have the privilege of working with every day –…
Read MoreHard Knocks and Happy Endings….A Woodpecker Makes His Way Home
Woodpeckers seem to have a knack for getting themselves into trouble, especially those who live in close proximity to homes and businesses. Many woodpeckers make themselves right at home in our backyards, placing them perilously close to one of the biggest threats to birds – windows. Each year, hundreds of thousands of birds are injured…
Read MoreOh, Baby! VINS’ First Baby Bird of the Season.
Spring has arrived in New England, and for VINS this means the arrival of “baby bird season.” Right now, birds are busy finding mates, establishing territories, building nests, and, for the lady-birds, laying eggs. While many birds successfully raise their young to adulthood, there are some whose babies find themselves in need of a helping…
Read MoreRed-hot Red-tail
Not too long ago, we played host to a red-tailed hawk who was suffering the effects of our long, harsh Vermont winter. She was emaciated and crawling with internal parasites, but she was full of fire and spirit – take a look back at her humble beginnings in the VINS rehab department. Watch a video…
Read MoreGoodbye, VINS!
Releasing a barred owl back into the wild. Today I had the chance to release a barred owl who came to VINS in February after being struck by a car. This will be the last bird I release for VINS, as my time here in the wildlife rehabilitation department comes to a close.Watch a video…
Read MoreBaby, baby, baby, ohhhh!
Mallard duckling Each spring and summer, VINS Wildlife Services cares for several hundred injured and orphaned baby birds. Watch our cute baby bird video!We patch up baby birds’ wounds, set their broken bones, and feed them specialized meals that mimic their diets in the wild. Once the birds are healthy enough and ready to live…
Read MoreChickadee checks out!
A little black-capped chickadee came to VINS last month with a drooping wing. While we couldn’t detect a specific fracture, we wrapped the bird’s wing to stabilize it, in case there was a small broken bone. Within a month, the wrap had been removed, the wing was sitting normally along the bird’s body, and this chickadee…
Read MoreRed-tail on the Move
A red-tailed hawk was found in Hartland, Vermont … in a chicken coop! The emaciated raptor was going after a family’s chicken, became entangled in the coop, and needed rescue. Watch a video of the hawk!Upon exam, VINS staff found the hawk to be emaciated — very thin and underweight — and had internal parasites.…
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