WEST CARLETON – It will be a Sweet Night for Birds, but a pretty fun night for humans too.

“The Ottawa Valley Wild Bird Care Centre (WBCC) is excited to host its first annual fundraiser called A Sweet Night for Birds to raise awareness of the growing need for increased funding support to save more wild birds,” the WBCC released in a statement yesterday (Oct. 10). “The centre is seeing an increasing number of birds due to city growth and expansion, human related activities and climate change. It treats thousands of injured, ill or orphaned birds each year, giving each bird the best possible chance at survival, rehabilitation and release back into the wild. Each life saved contributes to the survival of its species and to the overall health of the environment on which we all depend.”

The WBCC has been fundraising for a huge project to build an expanded centre in West Carleton. The WBCC is a registered Canadian charity that relies on public support and fundraising initiatives to fund its work.

Sweet Night for Birds will have a long list of guest speakers including:

• Master of Ceremony, Hallie Cotnam, CBC Radio, Ottawa Morning
• Jim Watson, Mayor, City of Ottawa  
• Eli El-Chantiry, Councillor, Ward 5 West Carleton-March
• Juliette Marczuk, Chair, Board of WBCC
• Patty McLaughlin, Program Development Coordinator, WBCC
• Brandon, Junior Avian Ambassador
• Robert Burns, Director, Board of WBCC, testimonial on annual giving
• Murray Kronick, Major Gift Donor, testimonial on giving to the new centre

Desserts to follow prepared by Pastry Chef Joe Calabro, La Pasticceria Gelateria, and sponsored by Wild Birds Unlimited.

The event will be held Oct. 15, from 7 p.m. to 9 p.m. at Jean Pigott Hall, City of Ottawa, 110 Laurier Ave. West.

The Ottawa Valley WBCC is the only wildlife organization in Ottawa and Eastern Ontario solely dedicated to the rehabilitation of injured, ill and orphaned wild birds. Open for public bird admissions 365 days a year, the Centre’s mission is to assess, treat, and provide any care essential to the successful and safe release of any wild bird in its custody back into the natural environment.

To support this mission, the centre provides concerned individuals with appropriate direction in cases of potential avian injury or distress and offers information pertinent to the prevention and management of human-bird conflicts. The centre also currently offers off-site, age-appropriate presentations in order to foster an interest in and respect for wild birds in general, and to promote awareness of the many hazards they now face in today’s environment – both locally and in the world as a whole. For more information about the Ottawa Valley Wild Bird Care Centre’s building campaign, please visit https://wildbirdcarecentre.org.