The Busy Season by the Numbers
So far this year, Avian Haven has taken in over 2,100 birds representing 180 species — and every single one of them made it into our care because someone like you noticed, called, drove, donated, or spread the word. Busy season is when our mission is put to the test, and this year our team, our volunteers, and our supporters met that test again and again.
Before we get to the numbers, we want you to meet a few of the birds whose stories capture what this season was all about.
Three Stories From the Nursery and Beyond
The Barn Swallows Nobody Could Identify
A group of nestling barn swallows arrived so young that our rehabbers couldn't even identify the species at first glance. Barn swallows are aerial insectivores — they catch their food on the wing, meaning they never learn to eat from a dish the way many songbirds do. Thanks to the dedication of our rehab team, this tricky group grew strong enough for release, and took to the sky as they were always meant to.
From Fallen Nestlings to Successful Hunters
Two barred owl babies came to us after falling from their nest, both orphaned and dealing with maggot infestations in their ears — one far more severe than the other, requiring regular wound debridement over the course of several weeks. Raising owls to independence means more than healing their bodies; it means teaching them to be owls again. As they grew, both owls showed everything we hope to see in a young barred owl: strong vertical flight, beautiful feathering, and the silent wingbeats that make owls such stealthy hunters. But the real question remained — could they still hunt effectively after the damage the maggots had caused?
Live prey training gave us the answer. Both owls passed with flying colors. One was released back near where he was found early this month. The second has been deemed ready to go, and we're working now to get him back out into the wild where he belongs.
(Watch the live prey test here.)
A Loon's Long Road Back to Keezer Lake
In July, a loon arrived at Avian Haven with fishing hooks embedded near her eye and in her neck — an injury that required surgery to repair. Months later, she has recovered remarkably well. While she remains in our care as we prepare for her release, we are feeling hopeful and proud of how far she's come, and we're looking forward to the day we can return her home to Keezer Lake.
The Numbers:
2,100 birds cared for so far this year
180 species represented
1000+ volunteer hours and miles driven
2000+ calls fielded per month during the busiest season
~1,000,000 meal worms fed to baby birds
Countless hours of feeding, medicating, flight conditioning, and prey training behind the scenes
Thank You to Our Volunteers and Team
None of this happens without the people behind it. Our volunteer transporters drove birds from across the state to get them the care they needed. Our staff and interns worked long, demanding days through the height of baby bird season. And our supporters — through donations and by spreading the word — made sure we had what we needed to say yes every time the phone rang.
To every volunteer, donor, and friend who played a part this season: thank you. You are the reason a nestling too small to identify, two orphaned owlets, and an injured loon all got a second chance.
Want to help us keep meeting the need? Your gift today helps us stock incubators, fund live prey training, and cover surgeries like the one that saved the loon in our care's life.
