Bird rescuers face uncertainty, too

PORT TOWNSEND — The birds are still coming in: a red-tailed hawk, a varied thrush, even a great blue heron.

“And we’re still feeding seven eagles,” said Cynthia Daily of Discovery Bay Wild Bird Rescue, the nonprofit organization serving birds across the North Olympic Peninsula.

Those eagles — six bald and one golden — and the rest are recuperating from injuries and eating a lot, Daily said.

She wonders how she’ll fund all that food. Discovery Bay Wild Bird Rescue relies on community donations; it receives no state or federal support. As Daily and her crew of volunteers stop presenting programs at schools, community centers and festivals amid the coronavirus outbreak, they’re looking at a drought of such contributions.

“We’re going to have to figure out how we can catch up. We’re going to do the best we can,” Daily said.

“Babies are still coming,” now that spring is here, so she listed items she hopes people can share:

• Jars of baby food: meat, fruits and vegetables;

• Baby cereal;

• Birdseed;

• Dry pet food;

• Heavy ceramic bowls and ashtrays;

• Heating pads and heating lamps.

Discovery Bay Wild Bird Rescue has two drop-off sites: Wild Birds Unlimited, 275953 U.S. Highway 101 in Gardiner and Pet Town, 2427 Sims Way in Port Townsend.

Daily emphasized that human needs are paramount throughout the public health crisis. So while her organization appreciates donations of items and cash, she urged community members to support the local efforts to help people as well.

“If people want to make a donation, we are certainly always grateful for that,” Daily said.

Contributions can be sent to Discovery Bay Wild Bird Rescue, P.O. Box 861, Port Townsend, WA 98368.