HILLSBOROUGH COUNTY, Fla. -- Baby woodpeckers, songbirds, water birds and baby owls are just few of the birds at Owl’s Nest Sanctuary for Wildlife.
"We are loaded to the hilt with baby birds," said Kris Porter of Owl’s Nest Sanctuary for Wildlife.
Because it’s nesting season, Porter says the sanctuary is taking 70 to 80 calls a day about baby birds. Some of it is due to people trimming their trees or storms knocking down nests.
But Porter says the biggest problem is when the birds are learning to fly and people think they’re hurt.
HILLSBOROUGH COUNTY NEWS | The latest headlines from Hillsborough County
"They literally fall from the nest when they have their primaries and they fall to the ground like little bowling balls. They are called fledglings," Porter said.
Porter says the birds stay on the ground from one to two weeks learning how to fly, while their mother comes down and feeds them.
"Please don’t pick it up and please don’t take it to a vet because not all vets treat wildlife," Porter said. "Sometimes we can’t pull them through and it's all because they got picked up when they shouldn’t have been."
Porter says if you find a bird and think it needs help, call FWC at 888-404-FWCC (3922) before you do anything so they can help determine the best care. You can also call Owl's Nest Sanctuary for Wildlife at 813-598-5926.
Owl's Nest Sanctuary for Wildlife is also in need of knitted nests where the baby birds can be rehabilitated. For more information on how to help go to: owlsnestsanctuaryforwildlife.com
