Wildlife Center of North Georgia

05/21/2026

Help us count nightjars in Georgia!

Georgia is home to three species of nightjar: the Common Nighthawk, Eastern Whip-poor-will, and Chuck-will's-widow. These nocturnal aerial insectivores fly effortlessly through the night sky, snapping up insects on the wing.

But sadly, these fascinating birds are experiencing significant declines.

That’s why Birds Georgia is part of the Nightjar Survey Network, a collaborative effort to collect better data on nightjars across the U.S. and inform conservation action.

We’re looking for volunteers to help conduct surveys during the following survey windows:
-May 23 to June 8
-June 21 to July 7

Volunteers conduct roadside counts on bright, moonlit nights by driving predetermined routes and stopping at designated survey points. At each stop, observers count all nightjars seen or heard during a 6-minute period.

No experience required!

Learn more and sign up at Nightjars.org or email Sarah Manning at [email protected] for details.

04/18/2026

Big Birdie Thanks to Wild Birds Unlimited for the donation of the soft caves for our cavity nesting babies. These Nuthatches LOVE their hiding place. ❤️

04/18/2026

Talkin’ about photobombing! These fledgling House Finches act like this every mealtime.

04/18/2026

🚨 LIGHTS OUT ALERT: APRIL 17 *UPDATED FORECAST* 🚨

More than 11 MILLION BIRDS are expected to migrate across Georgia tonight, Friday, April 17.

🤔 How do we know?
Our Lights Out Georgia forecasts come through a partnership with Purdue AeroEco Lab. The Bird Nerds (said with love and reverence) at Purdue and BirdCast use weather radar and decades of data to track and predict bird migration in real time.

You can even explore which species may be flying overhead at BirdCast: https://birdcast.org/

🔴 Tonight is a HIGH alert night. These nights make up only about 10% of the season but account for OVER HALF of all migration activity, so going Lights Out tonight is especially important.

⏰ Set your reminder now:
Turn off non-essential outdoor lights from midnight to sunrise.

(And then go birding Saturday morning to enjoy all the birds that made it safely through! 🐦)

04/12/2026

The Most Interesting Finch in the World:
“ I don’t always lounge around in a hot pink nest, but when I do, it’s at Wildlife Center of North Georgia”.

04/07/2026

Our nursery is filling up! This is just one incubator, and all the babies inside are fed every 30 minutes. These little peeps will be teenagers in about 2 weeks.

04/01/2026

Many thanks to our supporters who joined us for our Online Bird Baby Shower last month. 🙏❤️Monetary donations are always appreciated and needed, to help provide for feeding supplies, medication, and veterinary care, but we also appreciated the donations of several new bird habitats and cave nests and other items from our Amazon wish list. Thank you! 🙏 ❤️

04/01/2026

04/01/2026

This hatchling arrived yesterday evening in pretty rough shape. He was cold and barely moving, and had a very long strand of material lodged in his throat as well as a bleeding sinus from his tumble from the nest. We carefully removed the debris and warmed him, hoping it wasn’t too late to bring him back. Within a few hours he was moving around a little more, and today he’s much more alert and eating well. Thank you to his rescuers for not giving up on him!

03/31/2026

Great info from our partners at Georgia Wildlife Network.

Healthy Fledglings should be trying to avoid people. If you find a fledgling on the ground that does not seem to be acting correctly, please contact a rehab for guidance on whether to intervene. We receive many fledglings each year with various injuries sustained when leaving the nest, including broken toes, broken legs, and bent or broken beaks. We also receive numerous Fledglings each year that are emaciated, seemingly abandoned by their parents for one reason or another. Some species fly directly from the nest and shouldn’t really be on the ground at all. It’s impossible for us to detail every scenario in which a bird might need help, but if you reach out to us by text, we will be glad to provide guidance. 

It’s officially baby bird season. We do not have enough songbird rehabbers to hand-raise all the baby birds you find so here’s a quick guide on what to do:

If you find an unfeathered baby (a “naked” little nugget):
👉 Pick it up. It’s a myth that mom will reject it if you touch it.
👉 DO NOT FEED IT. Not worms, not crackers, not milk. Nothing.
👉 Check to see if it’s warm.

- If it's warm, no injuries, and has NOT been in a cat’s mouth? Pop that baby right back in the nest.
- If it's cold to the touch? Bring it inside and call for guidance ASAP.
- Can’t find or reach the nest? Time to get crafty 👇

🐣 Those Easter baskets you’re about to have lying around? They make great makeshift nests
✔️ Add some pine straw for cushion
✔️ Poke holes in the bottom for drainage
✔️ Hang it in a tree as close to the original nest as possible
Then head inside and watch. If mom starts coming back to feed, you’re golden. If not, send a text.

If you find a fully feathered little dude (a fledgling):
👉 As long as it's chirping and hopping around, it's probably just doing what baby birds do.
👉 If the baby bird is not trying to avoid you and looks weak or tired, call for guidance.
👉 Watch from inside and watch for parents to come feed. If you don't see parents, call for help.

Their best shot at survival is still with his parents. Fledglings are on the ground for a few days, hopping around and learning to fly. In most cases, mom and dad are nearby and still feeding them.

And just to be clear… You are not its mom.
Even if you put on a feather boa and pre-chew its food (please… don't do this 😆).

Only intervene if:
🚨 The bird is injured
🚨 The bird has been in a cat’s mouth
🚨 Parents haven't been seen in an extended period of time.
🚨 The bird is acting weak with eyes closed, sick, or not hopping away. (A photo is always helpful).

Otherwise, the best help is giving them space. Thank you for helping us keep wildlife wild 💚