Le Nichoir’s emergency service

The first bird, with iridescent deep purple feathers, was removed from its little box and gently cupped in the hands of one of the staff. After a group consultation and reference to the Peterson’s Field Guide to Eastern Birds, it was identified as a purple martin. Erin Harris, a rehabilitation technician, weighed and examined the bird. Its condition, dehydrated and fractured wing, was recorded on an admission form. It was given an injection, a figure-8-bandage to secure the wing to the body and admitted to the barn’s enclosed, indoor ward, where it would remain for 10 days. Then the student team faced the challenge of removing the Canada goose from the large cage, which had been sitting on the floor covered with towels. “The Canada goose is very aggressive and we must take particular care lifting it out of the cage, securing its legs and beak, before placing it on the examining table,” said Ms. Harris. The secured goose was safely lifted to the examining table, where a first inspection showed that some of its underwings were missing feathers, which is why it had been unable to fly and had been brought to the SPCA. A later diagnosis showed the Canada goose was moulting and it was to be released in a couple of days. Canada geese usually have a moulting period of several weeks when they are unable to fly. During the moulting period, they usually remain near the shoreline of a body of water.

The bird-ambulance service from the SPCA is one of the many ways that birds arrive for care at Le Nichoir Wild Bird Rehabilitation Center, which is located in a large 140-year-old wooden barn in a tranquil field just across St. James Church. It was a typical busy summer afternoon, with people arriving to visit, and, to deliver birds. The phone kept ringing with people asking for information. Specific directions were given for a person to drive that afternoon from Laval, to deliver a baby falcon which was found in their yard. More Baltimore orioles and woodpeckers than usual have been arriving for care this season.

In 2006, Le Nichoir received almost 1400 wild birds, 86 % of them between May and August 30. Forty percent were nestlings, requiring feeding every 15 to 30 minutes for two to three weeks. Almost 50% of the birds were eventually released back into their wild homes. In addition, there were 5000 telephone calls and 1450 visitors.

The founder of Le Nichoir, Lynn Miller had studied an endangered species management program and had worked with Gerald Durell on Jersey Island in the Channel Islands in Great Britain, before moving to Canada 19 years ago in 1988.

“When I was working at the Raptor Research Centre at Macdonald College, people would bring us injured birds, which were not the birds of prey for which the centre was providing care. I started to develop a passion for caring for the robins, chickadees, ducklings, woodpeckers and anything that came in. I cared for them in my home in Hudson for several years, and one summer I had collected 400 birds. I woke up one day in July and realized I could not do it any more on my own. As a result, four of us started Le Nichoir; Denise Paquet, Lise Sylvestre, Janette Fauque and myself. Judy Colling became president when I resigned. Marnie Clark offered us the barn on her property,” Ms. Miller recalled.

“Le Nichoir is now known all across North America. People are coming to us for information. I have been teaching at Vanier College, Montreal, and the University of Western Ontario, London, I have written a course on pain management for wildlife that is now being taught internationally. I am now finishing my PhD in environmental toxicology at UQAM,” added Ms. Miller.

For information, telephone 450-458-2809. Website: lenichoir.org.