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Cordelia, CA
As Solano
County residents celebrate July 4th with picnics and fireworks,
eight lucky ducks raised at International Bird Rescue Research
Center (IBRRC) will experience true freedom for the first
time. Mallard ducklings, number 845-851, will be released
into
the fresh
water of the Suisun Marsh and act like kids who hit the beach
for the first time.
The
center, whch relocated from Berkeley to Cordelia in January
2001, has raised almost nine hundred orphaned ducklings
so far this year. “We have doubled the total number
of ducklings we released in 2001 and we still have a couple
more months to go,” said Michelle Bellizi, rehabilitation
manager for the center. Depending on weather, the majority
of ducklings are born around Mother’s Day, but female
mallards nest from February to September, so orphans can
come in as late as October. Mallards make up the majority
of rescued orphans, but the center also raises gadwalls,
green wing teals, wood ducks and blue wing teals, some from
eggs.
The increase in orphan ducks at IBRRC doesn’t indicate
that mallard populations are rebounding from historic lows.
Ducks everywhere face increasing challenges to survival including
continuing loss of habitat, water diversion, and pollution.
The ducklings at the 12,000 square foot center, officially
known as the San Francisco Bay
Oiled Wildlife Care and Education Center, have come from 30 different rescue centers, from
Humboldt to San Luis Obispo. As word spread through the wildlife rehabilitation
community that IBRRC had a facility that was designed exclusively
for waterfowl and aquatic birds, more and more centers felt
the best thing to do for the orphans they received was to
send them to IBRRC.
With hundreds of ducklings being raised at one time, staff
relies on volunteers to help feed and care for the ducklings
and the many other species of waterfowl and aquatic birds
in the hospital. The center has forty regular volunteers
but needs over a hundred. Many volunteer positions are open,
both in the hospital and office. Volunteers are also needed
for the Wings on Wheels program, to transport birds from
other centers.
Anyone at least 18 years of age interested
in helping should come to the volunteer orientation that
will be held on July 19th from 10 AM to 2 PM. Please call
707-207-0380, extension 109, to sign up for the orientation.
To donate, become a member or for more information about
IBRRC’s work around the world, visit their website
at www.ibrrc.org.
Media contact:
Karen Benzel
Office: (831) 622-7588
E-mail: karen@ibrrc.org
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