Driven outdoors by the pandemic, Quebecers are rescuing birds in record numbers

The pandemic has sent many people outdoors: walking, cycling, and even, it turns out, rescuingbaby birds.

A record number of Quebecers are calling to report sightings of eggs and injured birds near their homes as the nesting season begins.

Le Nichoir Wild Bird Rehabilitation Centre, located in Hudson, west of Montreal, receives more than 2,000 wounded wild birds ayearand has seen a 60 per cent spike in bird admissions since January.

"People are just outside and around more oftenand I think that's really what resulted in us receiving a lot more injured and orphaned birds," said Susan Wylie, director of operations at the centre.

"During the spring, especially, there are a lot of birds that are nesting, and these birds would make nests on open structures and when people would go close off, say, their patio, they would find a nest with eggs or babies in them," Wylie said.

People are motivated by compassion when they scoop up a bird and drive all the way to Le Nichoir.

After eight years volunteering at the centre, Janine Johnson says seeing Quebecers' concern for the fragile creatures still brings a smile to her face.

"Some people that come in get really emotional," Johnson said. "There was this big burly guy who came inoncewith a seagull, and he was crying because he was so upset and wanted to make sure that it got the appropriate help. You don't expect that kind of thing."

But Johnson and Wylie urge well-intentioned bystanders to think twice before picking up a baby bird they find on the ground as parents are usually perched on a branch, foraging food for their young.

"We get a lot of birdnaps this way," Johnson said.

Fledglings, Wylie says, can spend up to two weeks hopping until they take flight for the first time.

"When baby birds are in the nest, once they get a little bit bigger, either the parents will push them or even a sibling will or they'll jump out on their own" Wylie said. "This is a very critical period for a bird because they're learning, they're exploring their environment, they're learning about hiding from predators."

Le Nichoir recommends that people who find an injured adult birdshould cover the bird's headwith a towel before taking it to the centre for treatment.

But for baby birds, they recommend leaving them alone or gently placing them back into the nest.