A nonprofit that started in a central Iowa woman’s basement now rehabilitates thousands of wild birds every year, and its founder says it’s time to expand to help more birds from across the state.
Jenni Boonjakuakul runs Iowa Bird Rehabilitation in Des Moines, helping nurse everything from doves to geese and from kestrels to pelicans. She says bird rehab is a round-the-clock commitment, walking into a room where soft crates fill shelves to the ceiling.
“During the summer, this is where all of our baby birds come in to be fed. Baby birds get fed every 30-to-45 minutes, sometimes every 30-to-60 minutes. It just depends on the species of bird and the age of the bird,” Boonjakuakul says. “Our baby hummingbirds actually get fed every 15-to-20 minutes.”…