Broken Wings On The Mend In Orange County

The recently opened bird sanctuary is a place where newborns, and birds unable to fly, can find safety and help during rehabilitation.

"These guys are fed every 30 minutes for 12 hours a day," said one worker. "Probably the most common one or two is bitten by cats or hit by a car."

The sanctuary treats a variety of birds--from sparrows and chimney swifts-- to robins and wrens.

"If they have a few broken feathers in the wrong place, they'll be unable to fly, unable to get food and they'll starve," said Dr. Bobby Schopler, the sanctuary veterinarian.

To assist in the healing process, the sanctuary has a dozen special cages with plenty of room for the birds to learn to fly again.

The flight cages are 12 feet long and 12 feet high, giving the birds space to spread their wings.

Once the birds are healthy, they are released back into the wild. So far, the success rate has been good, officials said.

If you are interested in donating money or time to the sanctuary, call the Orange County Animal Protection Society at919-967-7383.