Taylor the Swift is on the way to California.
No, this bird is not preparing for a concert in front of thousands of fans, though Taylor may catch a few eyes during a Golden State stay.
Taylor is a rare white-throated swift bird found injured and underweight by a passerby on a Coquitlam sidewalk back in November.
The bird spent 93 days in the care of the Wildlife Rescue Association (WRA) in Burnaby, but is now ready for the 1,500-kilometre trip to a facility in Sebastopol, a community near San Francisco.
The swift will be handed over to staff at Native Songbird Care and Conservation this week, and once acclimatized, will be released with a local flock.
Before Christmas, the WRA asked the public for donations to help facilitate Taylor’s trip to its new home.
“The rehabilitation, care and transport of the swift have been extremely costly in terms of food, extra medical bills, permits and transport,” said the WRA’s Linda Baker in a statement.
“But thanks to the fantastic response from the community to the Operation Taylor appeal, we were able to raise the funds without depleting the budget for the care of other animals. So many people have shown concern for the swift and we are delighted that the bird is finally on its way.”
The organization said it raised at least $1,700 in donations during the campaign, which help manage the extra costs of having an animal in long-term care.
The WRA noted permits and fees alone cost $645, while food, accommodation and gas for the trip will cost around $700.
The swift cost $10 a day to feed, which over the 93-day period came close to $1,000.
Taylor’s trip will include a stop at the Sumas border and a PAWS rehabilitation facility near Seattle for supplies.
According to the WRA’s website, the Burnaby-based non-profit has been providing wildlife rehabilitation and promoting the welfare of wild animals in the urban environment since 1979.Rescued bird is on its way to California
