Live rescued birds featured at Whidbey Audubon program

The Discovery Bay Wild Bird Rescue will discuss its work to help injured or orphaned birds.

October 3, 2023 1:30 am
Photo submitted Joseph Molotsky and a rescued gyrfalcon, started building a career as a rehabilitator when he was 13 years old as a volunteer and currently is the only paid staff. He is taking his knowledge and using it to train birds for use in conservation education.
Photo submitted Joseph Molotsky and a rescued gyrfalcon, started building a career as a rehabilitator when he was 13 years old as a volunteer and currently is the only paid staff. He is taking his knowledge and using it to train birds for use in conservation education.

Cynthia Daily and Joseph Molotsky from the Discovery Bay Wild Bird Rescue will appear at an Oct. 12 Whidbey Audubon Society meeting to discuss their work at the rehabilitation facility to help wild birds get back to the wild after being orphaned or injured.

The rehabilitator will have live, glove-trained raptors, such as owls, hawks and falcons with them. Doors open at 6:30 p.m. and the program begins at 7 p.m. at the Coupeville Recreation Hall, 901 NW Alexander Street.

The Discovery Bay Raptor Rehabilitation and Education Center’s mission is to inspire its community through wild bird rehabilitation, education and release programs to promote healthy stewardship and conservation of native wild bird populations. It sees almost 500 birds annually.

The center is directed by Daily, a wildlife rehabilitator, state and federally licensed for all types of birds. She has been a rehabilitator for over 40 years, starting in Albuquerque, New Mexico in 1986. She moved to Port Townsend in 1994 when she started Discovery Bay Wild Bird Rescue.

Today, this facility can house a hundred birds and has the capacity for more as the need arises, especially during summer months when it has baby birds. The center has over 30 outdoor enclosures that can accommodate an assortment of birds and their special needs. It takes in and releases hundreds of wild birds each year, ranging from the tiniest hummingbirds to native songbirds, crows, ravens, all types of seabirds and waterfowl, to owls and large raptors such as bald eagles and hawks.

Anyone finding a sick or injured bird must call the Center, ​360-379-0802, before bringing it in. See more information at discoverybaywildbirdrescue.com.

The public is welcome to this free event. Refreshments are provided. Anyone arriving after 7 p.m. must enter from the rear of the hall so as to not disturb the live birds.