Toronto Wildlife Centre

Recognizable by his striped body and chestnut-coloured cheeks, this beautiful Cape May warbler was the 63rd migratory bird admitted over the course of three days last month - there were 67 in total! He was found on a balcony by Apeksha after a suspected window collision left him wounded and in need of care.

When he arrived at Toronto Wildlife Centre, Registered Veterinary Technician Naschelly carefully examined him, discovering bruising on his shoulders and weakness in his legs. The little warbler was quiet and dull, exhausting all of his energy just trying to recover from the trauma.

The patient received care for a few days, receiving medication and supplementary tube-feeding to support his recovery. At first, he struggled to fly comfortably, but over a few days, his flying improved! He could take off, maneuver, and land safely. With further improvement, he was able to join other recovering songbirds in a large outdoor aviary to continue practicing his flight.

After a final assessment, the Cape May warbler proved he had regained his strength - flying quickly and confidently! He was released back into the wild, free to continue on his migratory path in much brighter spirits. 💚

Do you work with children or youth from under-resourced communities in the Greater Toronto Area?

Toronto Wildlife Centre is pleased to offer free, in-person wildlife education programming for eligible groups across the GTA. Our engaging presentations introduce young people to local species, conservation, and how they can help our wild neighbours.

This opportunity is available to a wide range of child and youth groups, including day camps, church groups, community organizations, after-school programs, and more.

To learn more about eligibility and booking, please email [email protected] and visit www.torontowildlifecentre.com/what-we-do/wildlife-education

For several years, a sweet mama robin nested safely in a tree outside Kate’s home in a small town east of Peterborough. But after a nasty ice storm brought the branches down last spring, her frequent nesting site no longer provided enough shelter.

This year, the determined American robin seemed to have found the perfect replacement spot: the wheel well of a car in Kate’s garage!

The problem? Kate has a busy household with multiple vehicles, and preparing to drive quickly became an obstacle course. Her family tried everything they could think of to safely deter the robin from building her nest. They checked all the wheel wells at least three times a day to clear away any grass and nesting material. When parked, they plugged the wheel wells with cloth shopping bags and newspapers. They even tried parking farther away from their home hoping to force the robin to find somewhere more suitable to lay her eggs.

But mama robin was NOT giving up. She kept remaking her nest in the less-than-desirable spot.

That's when Kate’s incredible 90-year-old father stepped in with a brilliant idea. If the robin wanted a tire, he’d give her one! He took a spare winter tire, built a custom wooden frame to replicate the angle of the car’s left side (the bird’s clear preference), and set it up securely by their garage. As a finishing touch, he added a tarp over the top with bungee cords for waterproofing.

The result? The mother robin moved in almost immediately! Now, she’s happily sitting on three eggs in her custom-built, luxury fake wheel well where she can incubate her eggs in peace.

This story is a beautiful reminder of what it means to coexist with wildlife. When animal instincts conflict with our human routines, a little patience, curiosity, and creativity can go a long way. By understanding exactly what this robin needed and offering a safe alternative, Kate’s family helped save a future generation of songbirds. 💚

This striking scarlet tanager was the 62nd patient out of the 67 injured migratory songbirds who were admitted over the course of three days last month. Melissa had spotted the wild bird near a sidewalk and sought help. At first glance, she thought he wasn’t breathing, but when she got closer the tanager tried his best to fly away. He managed to get to a low branch nearby but soon fell to the ground again. Worried, Melissa contacted Toronto Wildlife Centre.

Clemence could tell the new patient was weak since he wasn’t able to stand on his own without using his wings to support his body. The wildlife rehabilitator began treatment for spinal trauma, giving him a nutritious supplement and pain medication before placing him in an oxygen chamber to support his tiny lungs with each breath.

After a week of compassionate care, the little bird’s condition gradually improved! He began hopping around his enclosure more, perching with ease, and he no longer needed his wings to maintain balance. The resilient bird was moved to an outdoor aviary to continue rebuilding his strength. Once ready, he was released!

What if your birthday could help raise a little orphaned opossum?

If you're looking for a meaningful way to celebrate your birthday and bring your friends and family together, consider creating a Born to Be Wild birthday fundraiser. In honour of your special day, ask your community to help give wild babies the chance they deserve to start their wild lives.

It’s one of the busiest times of year at Toronto Wildlife Centre. Right now, baby deer, opossums, rabbits, foxes, and many other young wild animals are receiving the specialized care they need to grow up and one day return to the wild where they belong.

Whether your birthday celebration is big or small, funds raised will help provide food, medical care, housing, and more to our most vulnerable wild neighbours.💚

Ready to get started? Learn more and create your WILD birthday fundraiser today:
www.torontowildlifecentre.com/born-to-be-wild/