Wildlife rehabilitation centers needed in Pennsylvania
MIDDLESEX TWP — The birds were out and about Sunday.
While the feathered residents of the Stormy Oaks Nature Conservancy are the clients of the recovery center, on Sunday, Sept. 15, educators introduced them to visitors of the annual Fall Migration Festival.
Beth McMaster, founder of Wildbird Recovery, the nonprofit conservation organization of Stormy Oaks Nature Conservancy, on Sunday said she and the others involved with the conservancy hope to convey the importance of nature through the event. The agency typically helps rehabilitate songbirds and birds of prey at the Forsythe Road center, and the annual migration festival is its biggest fundraiser and educational opportunity every year.
“Our purpose is more than just fundraising, it’s educating people,” McMaster said. “I want people to be able to leave here and do something — if we’re not saving the environment, we’re not going to save the birds.”
People who bought tickets to the event Sunday could tour the grounds, meet the birds being treated at the center and also learn about other animals brought by volunteers, including fan-favorite, Shango, a Sulcata tortoise. Volunteers for the agency shared information about the bird rehabilitation process, as well as some facts about the animals treated at the conservancy.
While the event was meant to be a fun and educational experience for people of all ages, McMaster stressed the importance of the work performed by the center, and the work of other places like it. She said the center has helped nearly 350 birds this year, in part because there are not enough bird rehabilitation centers in Pennsylvania, and Western Pennsylvania especially. McMaster said the lack of rehabilitation organizations could lead to larger shifts in bird populations.
“Western Pennsylvania is suffering a serious shortage of wildlife rehabilitators,” McMaster said. “Our purpose protects the public from wild animals, it protects wild animals from the public. If there’s not enough of us, what happens?”
She said while the agency has been a nonprofit organization for more than 20 years, it relies on donations to function, and volunteer help to rehabilitate the animals. She said the migration celebration typically brings together many of the conservancy’s donors, supporters and volunteers.
Liz Spence, a donor to Wildbird Recovery from Hampton Township, said she appreciates the work performed by the agency, because it offers a place for people to take injured birds they want to help. She added bird rehabilitation is important to preserving the environment at large, because of their effect on the ecosystem.
Spence is also president of the Pine Creek Land Conservation Trust, and said the conservancy has also taught her a lot about species and land management.
“It’s such a dilemma to have a bird that you want to help, it gives you a way of helping,” Spence said. “I just learn so much here about how to manage our own properties.”
McMaster said people can learn more about the Stormy Oaks Nature Conservancy on its website, wildbirdrecovery.org. People can also learn about ways to contribute to its mission by emailing hello@wildbirdrecovery.org.
