Rescued baby woodpeckers half way to release

Vicki Andersen and her volunteers from the Songbird Care and Education Center in Orange County, CA have been caring for these three woodpeckers since they were about two days old and became casualties of a tree trimming job in Hacienda Heights.  Until recently the birds needed to be fed about every 15 minutes for 14 hours a day.  Exhaustive devotion by the volunteers of this non-profit has given them a chance for survival.

The immature birds are now fully feathered and at the appropriate weight.  Though they are already practicing climbing in their plastic crate and occasionally trying to feed themselves, the woodpeckers cannot yet be released.  Their introduction to the outdoors will first require about a month in a mobile aviary located in a suitable habitat.  Why?  Because Acorn Woodpeckers live in large family groups and are highly territorial.  To release them immediately upon arrival where the species already lives would endanger them unnecessarily.

The orphans’ next intended home is another rehab center many miles away from where they were first rescued.  It is the only location within reasonable driving distance where the appropriate habitat exists and such an aviary and professional care is available. This period of transition will allow other Acorn Woodpeckers that already live in the location a chance to to get acquainted with and accept their wannabe neighbors, and vici versa.

Keep checking our website for future posts about the progress of these birds.  And please consider a tax-deductible donation to the Songbird Care and Education Center.  The Center provides this service to many casualties of tree trimmers, outdoor cats, house tenting and painting.  Vicki and her volunteers point out that such casualties are completely preventable if people would keep their cats indoors and exercise greater care and caution when and how they perform such tasks.  The months of February through August are the most dangerous time for birds when work is performed where they are nesting.