Winter is here and the Bird Center of Michigan will be reducing our clinic hours accordingly. As of Wednesday, December 1st, our clinic phone and intake hours are 9:00 am – 4:00 pm, 7 days a week. Please do not bring a bird to the Center without speaking directly to a staff member first.
A message from the Bird Center of Michigan Board President, Dana DeBenham:
Today we unite for a worldwide celebration of generosity. #GivingTuesday is an opportunity for people around the world to come together through generosity in all its forms by sharing acts of kindness and giving their voice, time, money, goods, and advocacy to support communities and causes.
Our new apparel store features BCM t-shirts, hoodies, sweatshirts and more, and a percentage of your purchase will go directly to the songbirds in our care.
Earlier this week we received a lovely tribute to our Founder, Carol Akerlof, from one of the Bird Center’s former Clinic Directors, Bailey Hughes:
Carol Akerlof was a true saint.
During her time with us she helped many animals and people alike. Carol was the most generous and kind-hearted soul I had ever met. It was hard not to like Carol.
Because of Carol, so many birds, wildlife, pets, and other creatures were given a second chance. She respected all animals, from insects to elephants. Carol may no longer be with us, but will always remain the heart and soul of the Bird Center, despite its recent changes. For it’s because of her kindness, hard work, and dedication that we have this organization today, as well as other wildlife rehabilitation organizations.
Through the years, thousands of birds have been given a second chance and obtained their wings because of Carol. Carol was even awarded the Lifetime Achievement Award by the National Wildlife Rehabilitators Association for her work with wildlife through the decades. She was very deserving of this award, and I thank the late Bird Center intern Amanda Margraves for her nomination.
I learned a lot from Carol, not just about birds, but nature and life in general. She gave me a lot of motherly advice through the years and became like a grandmother to me. I know the best way I can help her memory live on is to continue her mission and work. I hope to continue to save birds in our area in the near future, as well as educate the public, and am able to do that because of the knowledge I gleaned from her.
When I first applied to the Bird Center in 2007, little did I know the effect Carol and her organization would have on my life. My ultimate mission is to work with wild birds again, and become one of Wayne County’s few songbird rehabilitators.
Carol helped me through some of the toughest times in my life and has saved so many lives. She will always be remembered for her kind heart, generosity, dedication, and selflessness.
Now Carol has finally gotten her wings, and I will miss her dearly.
Rest in peace forever, Carol, and thank you for everything.
-Bailey Hughes, former Clinic Director
Thank you, Bailey, for your heartfelt tribute to such an amazing woman.
Audi and Ashley, Landscape Architecture grad students at U of M, are back at it and working hard to transform the Bird Center of Michigan’s landscape into a beautiful, naturalized, bird-friendly garden!
On Sunday, October 9th, they’ll be working on the backyard, and they need your help! If you are interested in helping, please join us whenever you can. The event runs from 8:30 am – 3 pm, weather permitting. (You do not need to volunteer for the entire day. Even a few hours will help!)
