Alabama Wildlife Center Gives Second Chance At Life

SHELBY CO., Ala.—Thousands of injured birds and animals are getting a second chance at life thanks to the work of experts and volunteers at the Alabama Wildlife Center. They rehabilitate birds, animals and reptiles often found helpless by the public.

Last week, five barn swallows were carefully placed in covered baskets and carried to a site in Oak Mountain State Park, where they could be safely released into the air.

Volunteers and trained experts took a delicate grip on the frail black and tan birds. Chirps echoed in the morning air, near the park’s lake and gold course.

The baby birds had been abandoned when their parents were killed and a kind heart took them to the Wildlife Center. Gentle care for nearly two months grew their size and strength up to the release day.

There was a cautious excitement among the small group of helpers moments before the bird release.

“These guys should take right off. On the count of three. 1-2-3. There they go!  It’s amazing to see them for the first time take to the sky,“ were the collective words from the group.

“Wildlife rehab is not cheap, and it’s very challenging. It’s not easy, but this is what we get in thanks. The best part of it is seeing these guys go back to the wild,“ said Sandra Allinson, of the Alabama Wildlife Center.

Nearly 80 percent of the animals helped by these experts become healthy enough for a return to nature, but it takes round-the-clock work to keep up the success rate. Volunteers sometimes must feed infant animals every 30 minutes and provide intensive care for days at a time.

Many of the creatures in the wildlife center were injured by cars, attacked by animals or abandoned as babies. The center’s 24-hour wildlife hotline helps people who find them.

“It is essential, because any one can find any kind of wild animal any where on any day,” Executive Director Elizabeth Wideman Bleiberg said.

The hotline offers instructions about what to do and whether to even approach a wild animal.

The staff asks every one to call first before handling wildlife or bringing an animal to the facility.

The Wildlife Center is located in the woodlands of Oak Mountain State Park. It’s not funded by the park or the state, but it’s the necessary setting for the rehabilitation and release of animals.

Hours after those five barn swallows returned to the wild, a cooper’s hawk was given a clean bill of health and cleared to release. The hawk was found injured in Birmingham by a police officer in early September. The bird had likely collided with a building window and fallen to the ground.

Another small gathering in an Oak Mountain field, a few more moments of excited nerves, and the cooper’s hawk soared into the air, landed in a tall pine tree to look back, then continued an ascent and his return to nature.

The release of animals, especially birds is exciting and the Wildlife Center is trying to get the public more involved in the activities. At many releases, they’ll give some simple training to the public and let the public handle the release.

“I don’t think that there is a soul out there that has not appreciated hearing bird song, seeing a bunny hop across your lawn,“ Bleiberg said.

“I think it’s very important that the public be involved with the wildlife center and that they see first hand how human activity can impact wildlife,” Allinson said.

The lessons are easy to see, but the rehabilitation is expensive to fund. Most animals require $80 of care on average. Donations help pay the bills.

“We can’t operate without that. And we are so grateful to the public for what they help us do,“ Bleiberg said.
The center’s dual purpose mission is rehabilitation of wildlife and education for people. A visit to the facility in Oak Mountain park, gives the public a chance to learn how the rehabilitation work is done.

“I think when people come out here and learn about the particular animals we have here, they can go home and put into play some of the things they learn here,“ said Allinson.

You can visit the Alabama Wildlife Center’s Web site for information and to make donations to the non-profit organization.

If you find injured or abandoned wildlife, you can call the center’s hotline, 205-621-3333.