Animals In Distress Association & Ruth Melichar Bird Center

11/19/2025

Lovey (a mourning dove-y!), one of our current patients at the center, has been cooing, “THANK YOU,” for all the generous donations we received over the past 24 hours! Not only did donors drop off paper towels and laundry soap, we received even more much-needed items from our Amazon Wish List like heating pads, corn, meal worms, examination gloves, millet and more! ❤️ Because we don’t receive grants or major funding, we rely on the generosity of donors like you who help make our work possible…and most importantly…help make sure we can keep caring for the orphaned and injured wild birds in our region. Every item on the wish list and every dollar donated goes directly to their care throughout the year!

10/13/2025

What a great afternoon with the Idaho Falconer’s Association and their feathered friends! Thanks to the Falconers, White Dog Brewing and everyone who came out to enjoy the latest Birds and Brews event that benefitted our bird center. The continued support helps make sure we can keep helping wild birds in the Treasure Valley and beyond. 🦅

10/07/2025

You’re invited for an afternoon of birds and brews on Sunday, October 12! Join the Idaho Falconer’s Association to visit with live birds of prey and learn about conservation while also helping the Ruth Melichar Bird Center! Enjoy some beer, have some yummy food, see birds up close, and help wild birds of the Treasure Valley and Beyond.

The Ruth Melichar Bird Center is a registered 501(c)3 organization that rehabilitates thousands of injured and orphaned wild birds every year so they can be released back to their natural habitats.

09/11/2025

This sweet rooster wandered up a couple of weeks ago. He's not aggressive to people. He really needs a home before winter. If you are interested, please call the center at 208-338-0897.

08/15/2025

07/25/2025

This juvenile Swainson’s Hawk visited the center today and was ready for a little photo shoot! This time of year is a major time for young, juvenile birds of all kinds (not just birds of prey!) because they are starting to learn how to fly, find food and learn how to survive from their parents. Often, many people will worry these birds are in immediate danger because many of them will be grounded and out of the nest for a bit, but they are usually being cared for, healthy and learning how to use those wings! Here’s what you can do if you find a young bird during fledgling time:

🪶 Look at the bird. Does it have feathers or is it still fuzzy/downy/bare? Are there any visible injuries or is it in a dangerous spot (roadways, busy areas, etc.)?

🪶 Check the surroundings. Do you see a nest? Do you see adult, parent birds nearby or checking on the bird (sometimes even making noises to warn you to stay away from their growing child)?

🪶 If the bird has feathers, is hopping around and maybe trying to flap its wings (and you see a nest and/or parent birds) it’s most likely a fledgling growing and learning as they should be in nature. We don’t want them to be bird-napped!

🪶 If the bird is still small, fuzzy/downy/bare with little to no feathers, this could be a nestling that shouldn’t be out of the nest just yet. If you see a nest it may have fallen from and can safely get to it, gently place the nestling back in the nest.

🪶 If the bird of any age appears injured, hurt or orphaned, call us (if you’re in the region!) or your local wildlife rehabber to explain the situation. We’ll be able to ask you questions and walk you through next steps. We even may ask for you to send some photos so we can see approximate age, look for injuries, etc. This is always the best starting point, especially if you aren’t sure what to do or if the bird really needs our help. Our goal is to keep birds in the wild and in their natural spaces if they are healthy and growing. However, if they need our help, we’re always here so we can get them strong again and released back to nature!

Give us a call with your questions or if you find a bird! 208-338-0897!

07/24/2025

Here’s the answer to yesterday’s Tuesday Trivia question! These cute, insect-loving birds are Barn Swallows! We’ve been caring for more than 10 of these in recent weeks thanks to those who brought them to us for care! Barn swallows are a common songbird all over the country found in many types of areas. They love to eat flies, as well as beetles, bees, ants and other flying insects, which they are known to capture and eat while flying! Males and females both take part in nest building, which is done using mud to make a cup that is usually lined with grass, feathers and other materials. As adults, barn swallows have a cobalt blue backs and heads and an orangey chest and belly, as well as long, forked tails.

Great job to the many who correctly answered this week’s bird and thanks to those who played along!

07/22/2025

It’s time for more bird trivia for your Tuesday! Can you identify these birds who are currently hanging out with us for a bit at the center? We’ve cared for more than 10 of these recently and now! If you know the type of bird they may be, let us know in the comments! We’ll reveal the answer tomorrow along with some fun facts about them!

07/17/2025

Here’s the answer to yesterday’s Tuesday Trivia question! These pale gray birds with their soft yellow bellies are Western Kingbirds, which are also flycatchers just like last week’s Say’s Phoebes! We are caring for 10 of these cuties right now at the center thanks to the helpful individuals who helped save them and bring them to us to get strong and grow. Western Kingbirds are usually the size of robins, and they are known for being great defenders of their territories, even larger predators. They can be found in many areas including valleys, sagebrush, deserts and grassland, and they also love to perch on wires, fences and other things so they can spot insects to eat. Although they were known as the Arkansas Kingbird, scientists changed the name because they became so prevalent in many areas of North America.

Congratulations to everyone who guessed correctly, and thanks to all those who played along! Stay tuned to more trivia fun in the coming weeks!

07/15/2025

It’s time for more bird trivia for your Tuesday! Can you identify these birds who are currently hanging out with us for a bit at the center? We’re caring for 10 of these right now! If you know the type of bird they may be, let us know in the comments! We’ll reveal the answer tomorrow along with some fun facts about them!

07/14/2025

Guess what? The Idaho Community Foundation is celebrating its milestone fundraising throughout the years by giving you the opportunity to enter for a chance to award a $5,000 grant to a nonprofit of the winner’s choice! Entering is super easy…they just ask for your name, zip code and phone number or email address in a quick and easy online form by July 30. If you win, you’ll be contacted, and we hope you’d consider choosing us as your beneficiary! Get all the details in their post…or visit https://www.idahocf.org/make-more-good-possible.php.

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