TLC for Alaska's birds

The Bird Treatment and Learning Center in Anchorage has been caring for Alaska's sick, injured and orphaned wild birds since 1989.

"We treat all sorts of birds, from little bitsy songbirds to bald and golden eagles," said Bird TLC volunteer Glenda Hernandez.

Hernandez says the center cares for more than 900 birds each year. And as a non-profit organization, Bird TLC relies on an army of volunteers. There are about 60 volunteers who help out in the clinic, doing things like cleaning cages, preparing food, feeding the birds, rewrapping broken or injured wings and taking the birds for X-rays or medical exams.

"They do all the grunt work to help the birds heal and to keep the center running," said Hernandez.

In addition to helping out in the clinic, some 30 volunteers serve as qualified caretakers for non-releasable birds. Caretakers must attend an all-day orientation class and spend at least 15 hours with a mentor before becoming qualified to care for and handle the birds.

Once qualified, caretakers provide caging facilities in their homes appropriate for the types of birds they care for. And they are responsible for all food expenses associated with their birds. Bird TLC covers the birds' medical costs.

Cheryl Gardner is a Bird TLC volunteer who cares for a female gray horned owl named Artimus. Artimus found herself at Bird TLC after being left in a cardboard box at the front door of U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service's Kenai office two years ago. Gardner says the owl had a fracture of her right wrist and could no longer survive in the wild.

Non-releasable birds like Artimus are used for educational purposes. Caretakers present the birds in a variety of public venues such as schools and public libraries.

"Part of our mission statement is to provide avian education opportunities for school children and for the public in general," said Hernandez.

In addition to learning how to handle and care for the birds, caretakers are required to do individual research on the type of bird in their care. Hernandez says they must present their findings in a presentation before a six-member committee of experienced handlers and educators.

"They are required to do a whole mock program just like they would do in public," said Hernandez.

She says each handler emphasizes different points of interest in his or her presentation. Some focus on the natural history of the birds and the things that make a particular bird unique, while others focus on environmental issues and hazards--both man-made and natural--facing birds.

"Our goal is really just for people to become more aware of the bird population in general," said Hernandez.