West Sound Wildlife Shelter

06/17/2026

So feisty!!

For the third year in a row, we have received fledgling American Kestrels from the same mother! Momma Kestrel has chosen a precarious place to nest (a concrete warehouse with high ceilings), and despite all efforts to deter her, she has come back for a third year in a row to have her young. When the babies become old enough to fledge, they begin wanting to explore outside the nest. In this case, because of the location of the nest, the babies end up falling out of the nesting area with no way to get back up. Thanks to the Washington Department of Fish and Wildlife, these babies were safely rescued and brought into our care! While we wish that Momma Kestrel found a slightly safer place to nest, we can’t deny our excitement to see them again this year. How could you deny that adorable, feisty face!

06/11/2026

Who’s that knocking at my door?

You guessed it- two Northern Flicker fledglings! These two were rescued after a tree had fallen and destroyed their nest in the process, leaving them grounded and without the ability to return to their parents. After being brought to our shelter and examined by our animal care team, we found these two sustained no injuries from their fall, and had very big appetites! After some time being fed around the clock, our little Flicker friends have started eating on their own and learning to fly. How cute are they!

This brother and sister duo are an excellent showcase of Northern Flicker’s sexual dimorphism. The males of the species have red around their mouths, almost in the shape of a mustache! The females, shown on the left, lack the red coloring, as is often the case with female birds. We think they are both so beautiful. Look out for these guys in your yard! Not only are they seen looking for food in trees as woodpeckers traditionally are, but they are also often seen on the ground, collecting worms like robins!

06/05/2026

Tiny but mighty!

Say hello to Rufous Hummingbird 26-171! This little one came in to our shelter back in April after a member of the public had found the nest abandoned my the parents. As this bird was a young nestling, staff placed her in an incubator and began feeding every 15 minutes from sun up to sun down. As she grew, we moved her into a large enclosure and brought her fresh flowers daily to teach her to eat in a natural environment. Eventually, after spending time in an outside enclosure to get acclimated to the weather, she was finally eligible for release! Watch til the end to see her fly free!

Did you know that Rufous Hummingbirds migrate up to 4,000 miles each year? To avoid low temperatures and harsh winter weather, these hummingbirds fly south to Mexico in late summer, specifically favoring the wooded areas in Guerrero. They come back up to us in the PNW in early spring. Keep your eye out for them now before they’re gone!

05/30/2026

Another successful release!

This juvenile Bald eagle came to us back in March all the way from Herron Island! The eagle was found grounded and unable to fly off. Upon examination at West Sound Wildlife Shelter, we found the patient to be very emaciated, but lacked any injuries that would prevent them from flight. This bird is a perfect example of difficulties young raptors often face. Once fledged, juvenile birds can sometimes struggle at sustaining themselves away from mom and dad. With several months of care from our team to increase his weight and gain back his flight muscles, this eagle is strong, alert, and ready to fly free!

05/27/2026

Behind every rescue, every late-night intake, every clean enclosure, every meal prepared, every transport, every answered phone call, and every second chance… there’s a volunteer making it happen.
 
Our volunteers are the heartbeat of West Sound Wildlife Shelter. They show up with compassion, dedication, patience, and an incredible love for wildlife — often fueled by coffee and determination. From caring for our tiniest patients to supporting our education and outreach efforts, they give so much of themselves to help wild animals heal and return home where they belong.
 
To every single volunteer who gives their time, energy, and heart to this work: thank you. We simply could not do this without you.
 
You are truly the secret ingredient.

05/25/2026

05/25/2026

Say hello to one of our favorite forest dwellers!

Townsend’s Chipmunks are a slightly more uncommon, but very much loved, rodent species that we see here at West Sound Wildlife Shelter. Smaller than their squirrelly cousins, these chipmunks are found in forested areas all over the Pacific Northwest. You’ll have to look closely though, as they tend to be far more elusive than their squirrel counterparts. Chipmunks are omnivores, meaning they’ll eat berries, nuts, and seeds, as well as insects and fungi. They have even been known to eat bird eggs! These sneaky friends will use their cheek pouches to store food, and they can carry up to a third of their body weight in food! And, as demonstrated in the second picture, they are the cutest little babies!!

05/20/2026

Robins galore!

Say hello to one of our most common baby bird patients! Right now, American Robins make up about 10% of our patient load, with most of those being juveniles. Above is a video of a few of our current fledgling being fed in their weigh box before returning to their enclosure. These adaptable little birds thrive in suburban environments, where lawns provide plenty of worms and insects to eat. As members of the thrush family, robins also snack on berries and even spiders!

One common misconception is that robins completely migrate away for winter. In Washington’s temperate climate, many actually stay year-round. They’re just less noticeable in colder months, when frozen ground makes worms harder to find and they rely more on berries and flying insects for food.

Right now, though, robin fledglings are everywhere, learning how to fly and forage on their own. It’s completely normal to see them spending time on the ground, so watch your step! If you’re ever concerned about a baby robin, give West Sound Wildlife Shelter a call, we’re always happy to help make sure these feathered friends stay safe.

05/15/2026

Look what the wind blew in!

This Barred owl chick was found in a Bremerton park after a good samaritan noticed him alone on the ground in the late evening. After carefully containing the chick, she held him overnight and brought him to us first thing in the morning. With no mom or nest in sight, this owlet was in need of our help. After assessing the chick for injuries, we found he had a clean bill of health!

Young birds tend to thrive better with others of their species in rehabilitation. As we did not have another owlet of his size, we contacted our friends at Discovery Bay Wild Bird Rescue to see if they would be able to help. Luckily, they had another owlet close in age, and an adult Barred owl that can be a role model for them. Now, the owlet is being carefully raised by Discovery Bay and seems to be enjoying their time! Thank you for providing the best care for this baby. It takes a village!

05/12/2026

Warning- extreme cuteness ahead!

Mondays are hard for everyone. Let these little guys help brighten your day and soothe your stress!