Gosling Fostering

The Bird Center of Michigan is looking for individuals interested in helping wild foster orphaned goslings. We receive a high number of calls each spring and early summer regarding orphaned goslings. Ideally, a healthy gosling is wild fostered into an adoptive family of geese within 48-72 hours of intake to avoid improper imprinting. As a wild foster volunteer, you would assist in getting orphaned goslings adopted by a wild goose family of goslings the same size. The requirements for participating in our wild foster volunteer program are:

• 18+ years of age
• Comfort in minimal handling young goslings and learning normal goose behaviors with training
• Willing to help out in short notice time frames (24-48 hours) due to nature of work
• Able to move quickly and intervene if the gosling is rejected
• Okay possibility of getting wet and/or muddy
• Required to transport goslings to release site
• 2-3 month commitment: April-June with most help needed in May

If you are interested in helping with wild fostering orphaned goslings this year, please reach out to the clinic at [email protected] for more information.

Duckling Fostering

The Bird Center of Michigan is searching for 2 to 5 mallard duckling foster volunteers. As a duckling foster, you would be responsible for creating a warm and secure environment, offering a suitable diet with appropriate nutrition, and guiding the ducklings through essential activities such as swimming and foraging. The requirements for fostering orphaned ducklings are:

• Feeding and cleaning 4-5 times daily
• 18+ years of age
• Wildlife must have no exposure to children or pets
• Supplies provided
• Enclosures must meet minimum standards (volunteer’s expense)
• 3-4 month commitment: April-July
• Minimal handling to keep the animals wild
• Must live within one hour from the BCM

If you are interested in helping foster mallard ducklings this year, please reach out to the clinic at [email protected] for more information.