Wild Wings Rehab



We made him comfy in a box with a warm towel.

Normally when it comes to out-of-nest or seemingly lost baby birds, I like to just let nature take its course (unless its as easy as putting the baby bird back in its nest).  Most often a parent will eventually show up, problem solved.  But this juvenile Gila Woodpecker appeared at my bedroom window around 7 PM, and clung to the screen intermittently pecking and squawking until 7AM.  No Gila mom or pop showed up, so we brought him in, made him a safe little "nest" - cardboard box with a warm towel, and called Wild at Heart bird rescue.  They referred us to Wild Wings Rehab, who specialize in woodpeckers, hummingbirds, and songbirds.

Paul and Gloria Halesworth run Wild Wings Rehab out of their home in Ahwatukee.  For anyone who thinks "oh, wouldn't that be fun to do at my home" - think again.  Its a full time job, and then some, requiring up to 16 hours a day of working with the birds.  I can't imagine nurturing a multitude of woodpeckers, hummingbirds and sparrows simultaneously, inside one home.  They go through so many mealworms that they order them by the barrel!

As we dropped Junior off, Paul did a great job explaining the rehab process.  First Junior would go in an indoor cage with 4 other young Gila Woodpeckers and get fattened up a bit.  Then he would advance to an outside aviary and strengthen his wings, and then eventually be released back into the wild.  Thank you Paul and Gloria for the wonderful work you do!



Junior gazes out the window wondering where mom and pop are.

Bird Rescue Groups:

 

Arizona Covey - Quail, and small birds

602-996-1934

 

Fallen Feathers

623-533-2348

 

Liberty Wildlife - Hawks, Falcons, Eagles, Owls

480-998-5550

 

Wild at Heart - Owls, Hawks, Falcons, Eagles

480-595-5047

 

Wild Wings Rehab - Hummingbirds, songbirds, woodpeckers

480-893-6660