The Mockingbird Chronicles: The Early Days of a Wildlife Rehabilitation Center

This book is a collection of true stories about my personal experiences with wildlife before and after I founded the South Plains Wildlife Rehabilitation Center, Inc. in Lubbock Texas, in 1988.It all started when a neighbor brought me a mockingbird nestling four years earlier, and I had no idea what to do with it, but this chance encounter would literally change my life forever. If that bird had not survived, there would likely not be a wildlife center – or a book about it.My passion was raising songbirds for twenty-eight years – from the tiniest nestling to fledglings and young adults - and then releasing them, while providing back-up feeding and care for as long as it took for each one to become fully independent. I’ve had the privilege to hold – and help - some of nature’s most beautiful creatures, and caring for them was like a glimpse into Nature’s soul.A minimum of six months a year was dedicated to the birds I raised – all day, every day – but I never tired of caring for them even though keeping them all fed was a never-ending job. The smallest and youngest birds were fed about every 30 minutes, from first thing in the morning until dusk. Many times, after a brief errand, I’d return home to find three or more shoeboxes on my front porch – all containing a bird, or birds, or a nest of birds.Volunteers manned the Wildlife Center in the early days because animals were dropped off there, too. Then in 1993, an on-site Wildlife Center Manager arrived that made my life a lot less hectic.We accept wild animals that are ill, orphaned, displaced or injured with a goal of release whenever possible. The moment of release is always exhilarating, whether it is sending off a tiny hummingbird, or a magnificent Bald Eagle.Although the Center holds state and federal permits that are required by law, it receives no funding whatsoever from either agency…. all the more reason I have been so proud and thankful for our continued support and success as the year 2026 is just around the corner.The Center continues to thrive thanks to many thousands of small and large gifts, grants and donations, donated hours of help and talent from volunteers, veterinarians, game wardens, educators, interns, students, and scouts who help support our efforts for wildlife year after year.We have cared for many thousands of songbirds, birds of prey, waterbirds and wading birds. It was a pleasure to raise woodpeckers, roadrunners and Blue Jays. We’ve cared for opossums, cottontails and jackrabbits, deer fawns and squirrels. Water and land turtles get help from us too, because every life is worth saving.In addition to wildlife rehabilitation, we are actively involved in environmental education, taking some of our non-releasable “wildlife ambassadors” including hawks or owls and others to programs. If a presentation changes just one child’s mind about caring for wildlife and the natural world, then it’s a success. Over the years we presented – and continue to present – thousands of programs to schools, scout groups, civic groups and to the general public.The stories in the book are all memorable experiences, except the ones that were unexpected and painful, but I survived!As we enter our 38th year of service to wildlife, we are sincerely grateful for ongoing support and being a part of the environmental community of the Texas South Plains and beyond. Read more