Silver Springs, NV: Home to a Wild Bird Rescue Sanctuary

What are these sick, injured, and orphaned birdies up to?

Big Mouth the RavenPhoto bySuzette Feilen

"Feed Me!" His nickname other than Big Mouth is Audrey 3!

As the season unfolded at FlyAway Bird Rescue this year an influx of baby Barn Owls hit Suzette like a downy wave of tiny hooters.

Baby Barn OwlPhoto bySuzette Feilen

Suzette Feilen is my wife and the sole proprietor of FlyAway Bird Rescue which is also our home. Here, she is the receptionist, nurse, and caretaker of this wild avian emergency room.

With the early influx of all these owls this year, Suz had to start her day by hand-feeding more than 20 baby Barnies first and then begin feeding all the other birds in the house.

After about 6 weeks, Suzette raised and released almost 40 Barn Owls. A couple of Barnies remain but are scheduled to be released soon.

An adult Barn OwlPhoto byKeith LazarusonUnsplash

During the Barnie Tsunami, other avian wildlife needing Suz's help came streaming in, as well.

Hummers, Hawks, and Western King Birds - OH MY!

Baby HummingbirdsPhoto bySuzette Feilen

Just a few days old, these two baby Hummingbirds came to us looking for a mommy. Thank goodness Suz knows how to speak Hummer.

She has already raised and released five Hummingbirds this year. Two more are about to get the time-consuming feeding regimen.

• Buy a very expensive baby Hummingbird formula (Not sugar water!)
• Feed them every 20 minutes
• 13 hours a day

In time all baby hummers end up in the flower cage to learn how to forage for nectar.Photo bySuzette Feilen

Rehabbing Hummingbirds is not for the beginning rehabilitator. There are only a few people in the state of Nevada knowledgeable enough and permitted to do this delicate chore.

Much like the Red Tail Hawk we got in with an eye that looked horrible.

Red Tail Hawk with an injured eye.Photo byH. Mikel Feilen

Suz immediately contacted the facility's wildlife veterinarian Dr. Patrica Handal, DVM, to take a look at the bird. She felt the eye could be saved and gave Suz some medicine for it.

Two weeks later - the difference was amazing and the hawk is now released thanks to Dr. Handal and Suz.

As Suzette is dealing with all of these beautiful birds the tiny songbirds keep coming in, mostly babies, needing to be fed and fussed over. There are two little ones that I think are gorgeous California Quail and the Western King Bird.

Baby QuailPhoto bySuzette Feilen

Quail are so tiny and delicate as babies. They need to be with other birds (preferably other baby quail) but even baby doves can work as surrogate siblings. Alone they usually die. Suz will put a stuffed animal in with them if no other birdies are present.

It Works!

Then there are the unique and very charming little Western King Birds.

Western King Birds posing for their graduation pictures.Photo bySuzette Feilen

Suz gets in a variety of species found in the biospheres of Northern Nevada and the mountainous areas of Lake Tahoe. Her more than 30 years of experience helps her to know what each species needs to be released successfully back into the wild.

1. They need to be able to fly
2. They need to be able to find shelter and resources
3. They need to be able to hunt and forage

At one point this year, we had more than 100 birds on our property. The house was full of... chirping, screeching, and dogs howling in harmony.

Ah! Good Times!

Even though the season is beginning to wane slightly we are still receiving new guests. Yesterday we got in a baby Pelican. I don't have pics yet - Sorry! It is so pretty. White with still a flesh-colored beak. When it is an adult the beak will turn yellow.

I will keep you posted on the happenings of FlyAway Bird Rescue located in the bustling city of Silver Springs, Nevada.

FlyAway is a nonprofit business funded through public donations. Suzette is permitted federally and through the state. She is but one of 3 rehabbers in the state allowed to work with raptors, including Bald Eagles.

To Donate go to

Venmo account: SuzetteFeilen@suzette-feilen

US Fish & Wildlife Federal Permit #MBPER8790106

Nevada Department of Wildlife State Permit #41771

Reference:

Suzette Feilen - Founder and Rehabber of FlyAway Bird Rescue