Medicine River Wildlife Centre welcomed its first feathered patients into its new $1.2-million facility this week.
About eight songbirds moved into the newly constructed flight cage. Work continues on the remaining intensive care units, which will be completed in time for the centre’s grand opening on May 23.
“It is so nice to walk into that room,” said executive director Carol Kelly.
“There is a big sunny window. It’s warm. And the birds can fly eight feet up from the floor. All of them are flying around the tree that’s in there. It’s just lovely, so I can’t wait to move the rest in.
“And there’s no mice getting into the building,” she said, which was a problem in the aging hospital.
The centre, which celebrated its 35th anniversary last year, is located near Spruce View, and treats injured wildlife and also educates the public about animals.
The new wildlife hospital has been under construction since 2018 and will be double the size of the old building, with five intensive care units, a lounge and learning area, treatment centre, quarantine room and a kitchen and storage area.
The centre’s reception-gift shop opened last August, and will reopen in May.
Kelly said a broad-wing hawk and a barred owl will be the next to move into the new small birds of prey room.
Next week, work will probably begin on setting up the treatment room. The air exchange system is almost complete to reduce odours.
Related:
Medicine River Wildlife Centre hits 35 years
Medicine River Wildlife Centre hospital project on hold
The centre treats more than 2,000 patients and receives about 10,000 phone calls a year.
Right now, the centre is getting a lot of calls about skunks because breeding season has begun.
“People are smelling skunks and they think they have a skunk problem. They do not. The boys are out there fighting over the girls and they spray each other sometimes.”
Kelly said a huge flock of bohemian wax wings has also been flying around Red Deer, and when there are that many, a few will hit windows and the centre is called.
Kelly said research shows it’s the reflection of the sky in windows that causes the collisions, rather than birds eating berries and getting drunk.
The centre recommends solutions, such as hanging streamers on the window, or using the product Feather Friendly, which will be available in the gift shop.
“It’s tiny little dots that go on your window. You don’t really notice that they’re there. Apparently, it’s the most effective way of stopping birds from hitting your windows.”
szielinski@reddeeradvocate.com
Like us on Facebook and follow us on Twitter