WHEAT RIDGE — Standing in an empty field on a cold December afternoon, Debbie Strimple said she hopes the parcel of land in Wheat Ridge will give thousands of birds a warm welcome and a second chance at life.
Her nonprofit, Wild Bird Information and Rehabilitation, known as Wild BIRD, acquired the 1-acre site from a donor almost two years ago
Strimple is trying to raise $150,000 in a last-minute push to open a new, $492,000 facility at 11480 W. 44th Ave. by this spring’s migratory bird season. So far $200,000 has been raised, and a bank loan will cover $142,000.
Strimple and other regional wildlife rehabilitators said without , an already overwhelmed system will have to turn away thousands of injured birds.
The nonprofit takes in about 3,500 birds per year and is one of three songbird and waterfowl rehab centers operating along the Front Range.
“If Debbie doesn’t succeed, it’s going to kill us and kill Greenwood (Wildlife Rehabilitation),” said Donna Ralph, founder of Colorado Springs-based Ellicott Wildlife Rehabilitation. “Even if someone bestows a check for half a million dollars, they probably won’t be up and running during this year’s baby runs.”
Plans call for construction of a 2,500-square-foot building housing two intensive care units, a community educational room, a baby bird feeding room and 11 open-air flight incubators on the property.
“We approved site plans and a special use permit in June of 2013,” said Lauren Mikulak, a senior planner for Wheat Ridge. “They’re still valid; their next step is to fundraise and, from our standpoint, they can move straight to building permits.”
Strimple founded Wild BIRD almost 15 years ago and said there’s always been zoning issues as they’ve moved from one location to another. The Wheat Ridge site is perfect she said, because it’s zoned agricultural, is located on a migratory bird flyway and has three lakes south of the property used as a rookery by blue herons.
“For us, the big thing is the agricultural zoning,” Strimple said. “With how big urban sprawl is across Denver, it’s almost impossible to find available land like this … if we can get this built, we’ll finally have the long-term stability we’ve always lacked.”
Veterinary student and licensed wildlife rehabilitator Nabilla Mohd Zahir has tutored under Strimple since 2012. She said organizations like Wild BIRD act as front-line warning systems for , botulism or cases of abuse.
“A few years ago, we had herons coming in from Cherry Creek park that were bleeding out,” Mohd Zahir said. “The necropsies showed a lot of tissue damage; people were basically running them over in boats. We worked with park officials to get the word out that these were protected, migratory birds and you can’t just run them over.”
Greenwood Village animal control officer Faith Wilbers said most birds that otherwise would be rehabilitated will have to be euthanized if Wild BIRD isn’t operating this spring.
“During the spring and summer, lots of animal control agencies across Denver utilize their services,” Wilbers said. “These people fill such an important niche for wildlife, for birds; they never said ‘no’ and just have a big heart. I can’t say enough good things about them.”
Austin Briggs: 303-954-1729, abriggs@denverpost.com or twitter.com/abriggs
Silent auction, comedy show fundraiser
When: 6:30-9 p.m. Feb. 6
Where: Forney Musuem of Transportation, 4303 Brighton Blvd., Denver
Tickets: $30; includes bar beverages
Info: 720-371-7808
