Flint Creek Wildlife Rehabilitation is establishing rescue and recovery teams that will patrol buildings in Chicago’s downtown loop each morning during migration in order to save birds that strike buildings. These birds will be transported to Flint Creek Wildlife’s nearby Northerly Island location where they will receive prompt medical care for treatment of their time-sensitive injuries.
Thousands of birds strike glass on Chicago’s many buildings during their twice-yearly migration through the city. These stunned birds fall to the ground where they lie unconscious. Without intervention, they are stepped on by unaware pedestrians, eaten by hungry gulls or die a slow death without the benefit of medical treatment. These birds include many beautiful warblers, woodpeckers, thrushes and buntings, among others.
Well over 80% of birds that are rescued recover and can be released back to the wild. Timely treatment is important to survival rates and rescue teams ensure that birds can be treated by our trained staff at Northerly Island where they will have their best chance of survival.
Training will be provided. Interested volunteers should complete the volunteer application on our website at www.flintcreekwildlife.org/volunteer