When I finally signed on as an official volunteer with TWC, I started keeping a log book of my goings on be it rescues, releases, grocery shopping and anything else. I kept track of the count with my releases as I found it interesting how they added up.
It is never a competition, not even for myself. It's just been something of interest to me. Sometimes it was just one bird to be released, like a pigeon, somewhere in the west end of the city which is where I live. Sometimes it was one, five, maybe eight migratory songbirds either needing a drive north of the city in the spring or west of the city in the fall. I prefer to not go too far out of range especially since I work a 40 hour week, Monday to Friday. I do what I can, when I can. I wish I could do more but other volunteer gigs require more structure like doing an actual 4 hour shift. If Angie and I worked the same hours, then perhaps I could give up a couple weekend mornings each month (she might join me in this too); but we don't so our weekend time together is pretty important to us.
I should add that I am thankful for Angie's support with my volunteer work. She comes along with me on occasion when possible and if something happens to interrupt our weekend, she'll say something along the lines of "What are you waiting for? Go to it! Text me when you are on your way home and I will start lunch (or dinner)".
This spring I figured I would hit #500. I slowly inched my way to that number with a couple robin releases, a few early migrants being some White-throated Sparrows.
This robin I released back in one of my old high school stomping grounds in Rexdale. Driving though an old neighbourhood near Albion Mall sure brought back a lot of memories.
I was at 494 a couple weeks back when the an opportunity arose to help once again. It was a pigeon and a some more WTSP. I picked up the birds, unsure the total until I got there. Was my 500 here? Nope... five birds... so here I was at 499. Oh man, what a tease! I laughed about it and really wondered after the fact on when and what will be the 500th release because that was next.
Here is the pigeon that was almost #500. He's a bit fancy, isn't he?
Unlike migratory birds who go to proper green spaces outside the city during migration, pigeons need to go back to where they were found, which is their home. Their community is there, their family and friends. Yes family, as many are paired up with another. This pigeon was rather freaked out come release time. Who can blame him? He doesn't know what is going to happen to him next. So he spent a lengthy amount of time just cowering in the back corner of the box. I leave the flaps open for him to see the outside world. I stand to the side or behind so he cannot see me. Then it's a waiting game until he's comfortable enough to come out on his own. It sure does help if he can see his own kind which is what happened here. I do prefer them to fly off to higher ground but he plopped right down there near this other bird. He looked around for a while and then began to preen. He was relaxing now, knowing he was back home. After I grabbed the box, got in the car and started it up, both he and the other bird took flight to a nearby roof top. Now I could leave. That's just me of course. He was deemed releasable but I prefer not to leave any birds on the ground like this. Knowing he was high and safe made me feel better.
I'm no hero in this but honestly, it is sad to say, that I know a lot of people who wouldn't drive across the street to release a pigeon. I still get a lot of flack from some about how the centre will rehab pigeons.
I know, "Okay Rob, let's get on with this. Where's #500?" Hey, I have to build up the story just a wee bit.
Moving ahead some days later, a few more birds are ready to go. I was grinning the next 15 hours about #500 coming up. What will the species be? My first bird was a White-throated Sparrow. My 50th bird was a Red-tailed Hawk that someone shot with a pellet gun. My 100th bird was a White-throated Sparrow. My 150th was a Black & White Warbler. My 200th bird was a Yellow-bellied Sapsucker. My 250th was a Black-throated Blue Warbler. My 300th was a Chestnut-sided Warbler. My 350th was a Swainson's Thrush. My 400th was a Northern Parula. My 450th was an Ovenbird.
Yes, I am still dragging this out.
A few people at the centre knew of my upcoming milestone bird because I told them so. It wasn't bragging rights but just my own excitement to the occasion. They were kind enough to mark the release bags for me, giving species names. It doesn't always happen but I do appreciate it when it does. I don't always see the releases because they can happen so fast, and depending on how the bird takes to the release, some disappear in the blink of an eye, getting lost in the leaves of the nearby trees.
I will admit that a few of my milestone releases I hand picked when there was a few birds to choose from. Other times I just looked the other way and let my hand pick. What was I going to do here? There was a Northern Flicker, a Northern Parula and a couple White-throated Sparrows. As I left the centre, driving along, I pondered this.
Fortunately Angie was able to meet me on her lunch break for this moment. She too had time to think about me, the bird species and what #500 will be. She even said I know what you want to pick and I know what I think you should pick.
The Flicker is a big bird that we could probably get a photo of without too much challenge. Then there's that beautiful little Northern Parula, such a colourful little warbler. NOTE: at the time, I even thought that this was going to be my first Parula to release. Now that would be something! Then there's the White-throated Sparrow who has made it to a couple of my milestones.
In the end, my choice was a White-throated Sparrow. Now why would I pick such a common bird like that? A bird that many barely bat an eye at during migration because they are plentiful. Well the reasons are many...
This sparrow was the first bird I ever banded. Yes, I have banded a few birds in my day.
It is as mentioned my first and 100th bird release as well.
The White-throated Sparrow is a highlight for me during migration. It is an early spring migrant so when I start to hear their song, I know winter is truly behind us even though I can find overwintering WTSP some years. I get excited to hear that call even if I cannot see the bird right away. The White-throated Sparrow adds a soundtrack to our backyard periodically for a week or two every spring. It can be just one bird, sometimes 3 or 4. Then come the fall, they return for another stopover. Their call is rather broken in the autumn season, sounding like a teenager going through puberty. I am happy to see and hear them once again. Of course there is some sadness as well, knowing the warm weather is rapidly coming to an end. Lastly, I can relate to the White-throated Sparrow. Just one of many, an average being, not flashy, and just trying to get through life.
A backyard WTSP from this spring. Well, he is a little flashy, isn't he? HA!
Here is #500. I wish he would have stayed for a better photo opportunity.
Here is me at the release in my usual position to let them fly out. Posing for the camera is not my thing either.
Here is a much better photo of another White-throated Sparrow that was ALMOST 500.
I look forward to many more years of volunteering with the Toronto Wildlife Centre in any way that I can.
If you have time for one more read, not quite as long as this one, you might find this one about my 50th bird release interesting. I'm always saddened that there are people who find joy in hurting animals. Someone shot this Hawk with a pellet gun. BLOG HERE.
Before I go, I should add that there is more to a release than just releasing the bird. There's the driving. Being in a busy city like Toronto, going anywhere takes time, and sometimes a lot of it. The centre is 11 km from our home and 30 minutes to get there is not unheard of. Then to get out to Mississauga or Vaughan as examples for the migrants, maybe mid-town for a pigeon, you're gonna hit some traffic and depending on time and where, it can be a lot. I've had easy drives. I've had unexpectedly long drives due to construction or an accident. It's all a part of the gig. I've had people just assume I am taking all these birds to our backyard. Simply put "NO!" When I explain the finer details, some are rather deterred. You don't stand in front of a release. You don't let your friends stand in front. You do not chase the animals once they are free. They've been through enough. If you want to take photos, take them from where you stand.
