As Luck Would Have It, We Have Babies!!!
- 3 days ago
- 4 min read
We may not have leprechauns or a pot of gold, but we do have tiny patients, dedicated volunteers, and plenty of heart. And honestly, that feels even luckier.
Both Jazz and Vihar are sitting on eggs, as are their counterparts out in the wild, so we know Baby Bird Season is about to begin.
We've already welcomed our first babies, and it's only a matter of time before the hospital is full of hungry mouths waiting to be fed. But that's only part of what we're gearing up for, so read on for some of the highlights.
In this update...
BRC's Open House Returns - Save the date, it's March 28th
New Volunteer Orientation - Save the date, it's March 29th
Up Close & Personal - Take a look at one of our first babies of 2026
Loads of Thanks - New dryer is on the way
Rain Is Gone So Let The Fun Begin
The weather is sunny and warm with nary a rain cloud in sight, so it's time to open our doors and welcome our flock!
Please join us on March 28th from 11am until 1pm for the first Open House we've been able to host in a very long time! This event will be educational as well as fun, with multiple stations throughout the Ambassador wing to highlight the incredible world of birds and our work. Some stations will focus on rehabilitation while others focus on fun facts from the avian world. There will be a live presentation about nesting habits and our renesting program—and there will be crafts for the little ones and light refreshments. Of course it wouldn’t be BRC without including our Ambassadors, so mark your calendars, tell your friends, grab the kids and come join in the fun!
New Volunteer Orientation March 29th, 11am-1pm!
Volunteers are the heart and soul of BRC. And it won’t be long before hundreds of birds start showing up each month in need of care. You can participate in the life-saving work that returns thousands of birds back to the wild!
If you are 13 years or older, and can commit to working at least one 4-hour shift each week through August, you are eligible to attend our New Volunteer Orientation to see how you can make a truly life-saving difference.
Volunteer opportunities include working in our rehab hospital, joining our reception team, training for field rescue, becoming part of our release team, providing transportation for birds, participating in education and outreach activities, helping with landscaping and maintenance, assisting with data entry, and more. There are so many ways to participate and each one of them is both important and rewarding!
Here Come The Babies!
It's official, we've welcomed our first babies of the year—and no surprise, they're Anna's Hummingbirds! One in particular has stolen our hearts. Here is his story...
Our Intake Coordinator, Susan, happened to notice a message on our answering machine. It was after hours, but she couldn't resist. And after listening to it, she just had to respond.
It all started at a job site where trees were being trimmed...
Workers found this nestling on the ground. They searched and searched but couldn't find a nest or parents. Not knowing what to do, one of them took the tiny bird to a trusted family member. By that time, it was after closing at BRC. Fortunately they followed the instructions on our answering machine and sent in a photo. When Susan saw how tiny this little hummer was, she knew that, after hours or not, this baby and his finders needed help. Medical staff had left for the day, so she called the finders with instructions to get them safely through the night. She also made arrangements for the BRC team to arrive early the next morning because so much time would have elapsed since his last feeding.
The intake exam indicated he was an older nestling with most of his feathers. He was dehydrated with some bruising consistent with tumbling out of a nest. Our hospital staff carefully cleaned his feathers and his soiled rump using a small brush similar to a mascara wand. As you can see, he's a chunky little baby and he continues to feed well. Since his feathers are not yet fully developed, he's not quite ready for lift off. He'll be with us for a while until he is able to fly and learns to forage for himself. And we'll take every precaution to make sure he doesn't imprint so he can return to the wild when he's ready. In the meantime, we must say we are enjoying this little bundle of joy!
Loads Of Thanks!
We asked, and once again you answered. Thanks to the generosity you have shown, we have been able to order a new dryer—just in time for Baby Bird Season! If you are still inclined, our wish list contains many other items we'll need to care for the hundreds of babies we will be getting very soon. Every gift makes a life-saving difference!
Event Calendar - Come Join the Fun!
 | Check out our upcoming events—there's sure to be something for everyone—avian displays, games, and practical ways to be a good wild bird neighbor! Some events will also include our Ambassadors, so make sure you come by and say 'Hi!'
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 | Saturday, March 28 - 11am to 1pm BRC OPEN HOUSE 3430 Chanate Road, Santa Rosa Join us at BRC for our Grand Re-Open House! Enjoy time with our Ambassadors, educational activities, fun crafts, a live presentation about nesting habits and our renesting program and light refreshments. Family fun for all ages! |
 | Sunday, March 29 - 11am to 1pm BRC's New Volunteer Orientation 3430 Chanate Road, Santa Rosa For new volunteers only, learn how you can participate in the life-saving work that returns thousands of birds back to the wild. |
Your support sends thousands of birds back to the wild, healthy once more and ready to do their part in making our local ecosystems healthy and vibrant. You make second chances possible.
As Baby Bird Season 2026 gets underway, we thank you from the bottom of our hearts for being such awesome partners in this endeavor.
The Bird Rescue Center
PO Box 475
Santa Rosa, CA 95402
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