2024 Wildlife Rehab Recap

December 16, 2024

In 2024, Green Chimneys Wildlife Center successfully rehabilitated and released 111 birds. Alongside these, the center also cared for a few reptiles, including a Dekay’s brown snake and spring peeper frog.

Birds Released

Bird Releases: Notable species such as a purple gallinule (coordinated with Busch Wildlife Sanctuary for release in Jupiter, Florida), a hummingbird, a black vulture shot by a hunter, two ring-necked pheasants, and a great horned owl rescued from a chimney. During Birds of Prey Day in June, Green Chimneys student Diego released a Red-shouldered hawk with the help of Jay O. Sanders from high atop a fire engine ladder.

Notable Rehabilitations: Other notable rescues included a Sora/Carolina Rail in partnership with CWC NC and Wild Bird Fund, a scarlet tanager, and a variety of injured red-tailed hawks and mallard ducklings.

Wintering Over: Several birds will stay at the center for the winter and be evaluated for release in the warmer weather, including a Cooper’s hawk, a red-tailed hawk, a blue jay, two broad-winged hawks, and two crows.

Permanent Residents: Several birds are now residents of the center, as they were permanently injured or retired education birds or pets. These include a blue jay, a Swainson’s hawk, a barn owl, a peahen, an African pied crow, wood ducks, Sebastopol geese, Muscovy ducks, a Khaki Campbell duck, two leopard geckos, and a Canada goose rescued by staff from the Leir Foundation. This juvenile saw-whet owl fell from its nest as fledgling after a crow attack left it injured and unable to build the skills it needed to survive in the wild.

Flight Cage

The small bird flight cage housed a variety of species, with a total of 55 birds treated throughout the year. Species included cardinals, flickers, yellow-bellied woodpeckers, starlings, sparrows, mourning doves, cedar waxwings, kestrels, orioles, woodcocks, robins, chipping sparrows, house finches, mockingbirds, ovenbirds, American redstarts, crows, Soras, and Scarlet Tanagers.

Common Injuries

Car Strikes: 57 birds were injured in vehicle collisions.
Window Strikes: 51 birds were admitted with injuries from collisions with windows.
Cat Attacks: 16 birds were victims of predation by domestic cats.
Other Injuries: Additional injuries included entanglements in fishing line (3 cases) and cases of people mistakenly taking baby birds or fledglings, not realizing they are simply learning to fly and not in distress.

This year’s rehabilitation efforts reflect the dedication of Green Chimneys Wildlife Center to not only providing immediate care but also ensuring that many birds and animals are given the chance to return to their natural habitats. The team continues to work on outreach and education, helping raise awareness about wildlife conservation and responsible human interactions with local fauna

The Green Chimneys Wildlife Center features an education center, animal triage care area, large display and flight cages, woodland paths and naturalistic habitats. Our wildlife residents include local and exotic breeds, including an Andean condor; numerous hawks, falcons, and owls; several crows; and a permanently disabled bald eagle. Furthermore, Green Chimneys is licensed by the Department of Environmental Conservation and the U.S. Fish & Wildlife Service, and USDA. For more information about wildlife rehabilitation and education at Green Chimneys, please visit www.greenchimneys.org/wildlife