APOPKA, Fla. — Every year, hundreds of birds are injured or orphaned across Central Florida.

What You Need To Know

  • Since 2001, the Avian Reconditioning Center in Apopka has been saving injured and orphaned birds and returning them to the wild

  • Many birds end up there because of habitat loss, gunshot wounds, poisonings and naturally occurring injuries

  • Every Saturday, guests can witness flight demonstrations and learn about the center's resident raptors and get up close to many of the rescued birds

Luckily, many are saved thanks to residents who call the facility or bring the injured animals to the Avian Reconditioning Center located in Apopka.

Carol McCorkle, director of the Avian Reconditioning Center, says many of the injured birds need rehabilitation before they can return to the wild.

“We call this a flight cage," says McCorkle, who created rescue in 2001. "And it’s a hundred feet long, by 20 feet wide, by 15 feet high.”

McCorkle says the flight cage helps birds such as owls learn how to fly again after suffering a serious injury.

“It’s used to get all our rehab birds conditioned, so they can be released back into the wild and be in the best shape we can get them in,” she says.

The small nonprofit has a good batting average when it comes to saving wildlife. In 2023, 237 birds were admitted and 138 were released.

Facilities Avian Care Manager Bill Hammer says not all birds that come in can be returned to the wild in Central Florida.

“You wish you could save them all, but you really can’t. Not everyone makes it back into the wild. So, we like to take the ones we can’t, and use them to educate the people about them,” Hammer says.

Every Saturday, guests can visit the center and witness flight demonstrations while learning about its resident raptors.

“Typically, on a Saturday, we have all our birds out on display — as well as our falconry birds ... And then being able to be held by our guests as well as part of our falconry experience here,” Hammer says.

The avian reconditioning center is open to the public every Saturday from 10 a.m. to 1 p.m. but closed in August for summer hours.

Admission is a $5 donation per person, while kids under 5 are free.

For more information, visit the Avian Reconditioning Center website.