Enumclaw’s Featherhaven, a nonprofit songbird rehab center, has closed its doors after 12 years of operation. The sanctuary, which was run by volunteers, including the Wards, treated over 3,500 birds since its opening in 2014.

Specialized Care

The Wards and their team provided specialized care to the birds, including feeding abandoned fledglings insects exactly how their parents would, and using formula as sparingly as possible. They also had to be careful not to get overly involved with their patients, as this could prevent the birds from retaining their natural instincts.

Some birds needed to be fed every 15 minutes, morning to night, and the volunteers had to refrain from eye contact and conversation. The placement of the birds within the sanctuary was also important, as baby birds needed to learn their own songs and not the chirps and whistles of other species.

Continued Care

Although Featherhaven has closed, local residents can still take steps to keep birds safe. Cats are one of the biggest threats to birds, and making sure bird feeders are clean is another way to keep local flocks healthy. Experts recommend cleaning feeders once a week with a weak bleach solution to prevent bacteria and fungus from spreading.

For more bird conservation tips, visit the American Bird Conservatory website at abcbirds.org.

Original reporting: Renton Reporter — read the source article.