The new MARS Wildlife Rescue hospital is receiving baby bird patients as final touches were being made to the building.

Volunteers worked tirelessly in the past two weeks to get the baby bird enclosure ready for the annual spring influx of young birds.

鈥淭here was plenty of work needed to complete our hospital and get it ready to receive our patients,鈥� said Warren Warttig, MARS Wildlife Rescue president.

A small bird landed on Warren鈥檚 shoulder while he was working on the building, something not recommended by MARS. 鈥淣o one should have a robin on their shoulder, ever,鈥� he said. 鈥淚t is important that we keep wild things wild. And wherever possible, we should not interfere with or keep wild animals.鈥�

Spring is baby bird season, one of the busiest times of the year. Fledgling birds are often pushed from the nest so they can learn to fend for themselves. Well-meaning people will rescue these baby birds assuming they have been abandoned. As of last week, MARS had nearly 40 baby birds under care.

鈥淎t this time of year, we usually advise people to keep their cats inside and watch the young robins from a distance,鈥� Warttig said. 鈥淚f the robin is in danger, or there is no sign of the parents, it is only then that we ask them to rescue the birds.鈥�

Now MARS needs earth worms, meal worms and berries to help feed the growing number of baby birds in care.

鈥淐onstruction of the new MARS hospital complex isn鈥檛 complete yet and fundraising continues,鈥� Warttig said. 鈥淏ut the baby birds have started coming. It鈥檚 a busy time.鈥�

MARS, a licensed and regulated facility, provides rescue, rehabilitation, recovery and release for injured and orphaned wildlife in central and northern Vancouver Island. With a caseload that has grown to 700 per year, this volunteer-powered, donor funded organization has opened a new, hospital and recovery centre in the Comox Valley.