FWH E-News!

It’s Spring! 
Here’s some helpful information in case you find any wild babies this spring:

"I found a baby mammal...now what?"

"I found a baby bird...now what?"

Patient Updates

Juvenile Great Horned Owl

March came in like a lion this year, and the high winds knocked a juvenile great horned owl out of his nest.  When we went to check the nest site, there was no nest to be found.  Great horned owls do not make their own nests, preferring to take over a vacant nest left over from last year.  These often are too flimsy or too small to contain growing babies.  Both adult owls were still perched high up in a pine tree, so we began to make plans to return their baby.  Derek Nichols of The Tree Doctor generously agreed to donate his time and equipment to return the baby.  With the bucket truck parked under the pine tree, Derek first tied a large wicker basket to the tree to serve as a substitute nest, and then placed the baby in the basket.  This was all done under the watchful eye of one of the adult owls that was perched in a tree about 100 feet away.  We are happy to report that the family was successfully reunited.

Find out more about Great Horned Owls!

White Pelicans Released

We admitted a total of 4 American White Pelicans this year, all in very serious condition.  Unfortunately, one died due to severe respiratory distress.  The other 3 all recovered and have been released.  The photos show the final pelican released with a large group in the Sebastian area. 

More on White Pelicans...

EVENTS

April 14th, 2007:

Sampson’s Island Nature Park Open House--Find out more!

April 21st, 2007:

Earth Day at the Enchanted Forest Sanctuary in Titusville – come meet some of Florida Wildlife Hospital’s educational ambassadors. Get Details!

Keep Brevard Beautiful – Trash Bash 2007:

Website with more information

You’re Invited!

Florida Wildlife Hospital is having a Baby Shower sponsored by the Town of Palm Shores.

Date:               Saturday, May 12th, 2007
Time:               10AM to 3PM
Location:        Palm Shores Town Hall, 5030 Paul Hurtt Lane (1/2 mile south of the Pineda Causeway on U S 1)

Imagine caring for over 100 hungry babies at a time, some that require feeding every 15 minutes for 12 hours a day!  That’s what we do each spring & summer at Florida Wildlife Hospital!

• Bring a gift for our wild babies or you can make a donation at the shower for special formulas and medications that we purchase at wholesale prices.
• Visit www.floridawildlifehospital.org for our wish list or call 254-8843 for more information.  
• Meet our educational ambassador owls!
• Learn about Florida Wildlife Hospital’s wildlife patients and how you can help wildife.
• Games, prizes, food, & fun!
• Bake Sale!

Due to State and Federal regulations, the wildlife babies will be unable to attend the shower. 

UNDER CONSTRUCTION:

Kona & Eleanor to move into new cages!

Thanks to the generosity and hard work of Linda & Brian Archer, two of our volunteers who work in educational programming, our two barred owls will soon have new quarters.  Construction was given a boost by a very hard working crew of volunteers from GE who came out on March 3rd and put all of the walls together.  It was a long day of work, broken up by pizza for lunch and a chance to meet the two owls who will be occupying the cages.

UCF Cornerstone Group starts project

We are fortunate to have a group of students from the UCF Cornerstone Group at BCC’s Cocoa campus working on a big project for us.   Several years ago a volunteer built us a large pavilion. We have not been able to use it as much as we had hoped because it had a dirt floor.  And on our property, dirt is sand, and everything sinks in.  We recently received a donation of paving stones, and our UCF group was able to obtain donations for the balance of the flooring needed and for screening to complete this room.  We’re looking forward to being able to use this area for volunteer meetings and classes, as well as for additional space for patients during the day if needed. 

One last note...

If you would like to contribute for food, care and medications for these birds and the other 3000+ wildlife patients we receive yearly, you may donate online using the donations links of PayPal or JustGive or mail donations to : Florida Wildlife Hospital, 4560 N. US Hwy 1, Melbourne, FL 32935. Check out our website for more information or email to request more information. Thank you for supporting Florida Wildlife Hospital and Florida's Treasure...our wildlife.