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Le Nichoir Unveils Woodpecker Aviary – by Nat Lauzon
For 20 years, Le Nichoir has been rehabbing injured and orphaned birds and releasing them back in the wild. From their humble beginnings in a barn, Le Nichoir is now the largest rehabilitation centre for songbirds in Canada. At last check, they are caring for just over 400 birds – with about 1800 admitted on a yearly basis.
Last week, Montreal Dog Blog joined a group of recent donators for a special evening, celebrating the inauguration of their new Woodpecker Aviary. MDB’s advertising revenue makes us able to donate to amazing rescues like this one – so THANK YOU!
This unique aviary, designed for free by a local architect and funded by donations, is adapted to accommodate the specific needs of woodpeckers (photos below). Since they are climbing birds, the walls are lined with strips of bark, allowing them to drill for the insects inside. The bark can then be replaced as needed. Woodpeckers don’t generally get along in closer quarters with other birds, so this aviary will promote a calmer, more natural environment through recovery.
New Woodpecker Aviary – photo gallery
Le Nichoir (“nest”, in French) is a real community endeavour – fueled by a dedicated team of volunteers and donators. When you bring an injured or orphaned bird to the facility (here’s how to tell if a bird needs help), a volunteer will greet you and immediately take the bird to a safe, quiet area to be assessed. You will then be given a reference number, so you can keep tabs on that bird’s progress! In fact, MDB’s Nat Lauzon recently left a Red-Winged Blackbird in their care (last we heard, he was sharing an incubator with a baby Robin and was doing just fine).
On the heels of their first annual Festival of Birds and Nature last weekend, Le Nichoir is continually expanding their reach to encourage care and commitment of the environment and the creatures that share it. We are so fortunate to have this great place in our midst! Le Nichoir is open 7 days a week 9 am to 5 pm (including holidays) at 637 Main, Hudson, QC J0P 1H0. Please help Le Nichoir continue their awesome work: Donate Volunteer
