FOLEY, Ala. (WPMI) Baldwin County has followed Mobile and Pensacola by opening a bird sanctuary.
It’s a wildlife preserve for birds, a place where injured birds can be taken to be nursed back to health and returned to the wild.
The preserve in Baldwin was opened with the help from the city of Foley.
Up until now bird lovers like Janet Ripp have kept and nursed injured birds at home. Today she shows off Baldwin's very first Coastal Wildlife Rehab Center.
It's a trailer now but you have to start somewhere she says. "Initially we're doing song birds, small birds because we can only take in what we have room for. At this time we have one flight aviary for song birds. To get the next aviary, we will build another song bird aviary and something probably for small water fowl . With each step we will have to get permitted for larger species, " said Janet Ripp, Director of the rehab center.
Her mission now is for the public to know she's here to provide care for injured or orphaned birds.
Last year alone she says she cared for more than 300 birds that were dropped off at her home.
"We need support and we are hoping that a lot of people who find wildlife are aware of us. They get our number and know how to contact us when they have a wildlife need," said Ripp.
The Wildlife Center is located at the Graham Creek Nature Preserve east of Foley.
For more information call 251-753-wild (9453)
