Published by HarperCollins in 2009, Flyaway: How a Wild Bird Rehabber Sought Adventure and Found Her Wings tells how one woman's love for birds led her to devote her life to their well-being, often at the expense of her own sanity. Like many rehabbers overwhelmed by the never-ending parade of wild animals injured by the ignorance, callousness, or cruelty of humans (Gilbert estimates that 90% of the injuries she treats are caused by people) she closed her rescue, only to hear the call of the wild yet again and reopen with a new sense of balance.
In the Beginning
Gilbert was an avid birdwatcher, a longtime volunteer for a raptor rehabilitation center, and had been involved in parrot rescue when she constructed two large flight cages in her backyard, and got her license as a wildlife rehabilitator in New York State. The idea was simply to make a few calls to local rehabbers and offer to take a few songbirds who needed some time to heal in her lovely new cages. Gilbert already had a lively household, what with two precocious elementary school kids, two rowdy parrots, and a husband working from home. She set rules for herself, such as she would not take nestlings, would not deal with birds who were not flight-cage-ready, and would handle only songbirds. As word got out among overworked local rehabbers, the calls began flooding in, and Gilbert broke all her own rules.
Flyaway, Inc.
Gilbert established herself as a non-profit organization, and as her operation grew, she constructed a shed to serve as a clinic for injured wild birds. Now, Suzie found herself tending not only to songbirds, but crows, herons, hawks, ducks, and swans. Between caring for baby songbirds who need to be fed every half hour from sunup until sundown, trips back and forth to the vet's office, and fielding phone calls from people with bird issues, Gilbert leaves little time for herself and her family. Luckily, her husband and children are supportive, and five years pass. Gilbert describes the pleasures and pains of working with wildlife, and several birds who spent time with her emerge as distinct individual characters in her memoir.
Burnout
Eventually, Gilbert's inability to say no to harried rehabilitators, people calling at all hours, and the endless parade of birds in peril stretches her to her breaking point. Burnout is all too common among wildlife rehabilitators, faced with lack of funding and a litany of dangers to wildlife caused by mankind, including cats, dogs, cars, glass windows, clear-cutting of trees, pollution, people with guns, glue traps, pesticides, discarded fishline, etc.. All too often, the only way Gilbert (or any rehabber) can help a severely injured wild creature is by ending its life. Like most rehabbers, Gilbert finds doing so painful, and recounts several unpleasant encounters with another local rehabber who refuses to euthanize anything. With a heavy heart, Gilbert closes down Flyaway Inc., and stops taking phone calls.
Finding Her Wings
After a period of self-reflection, Gilbert slowly begins to bring birds back into her life, starting with some of her favorites: crows. These intelligent, sociable birds re-awaken Gilbert's sense of purpose, and Gilbert decides to return to rehabbing. The book ends with a sense that this time, things will be different. Gilbert has learned that she needs to set limits for herself and stick to them. She decides to specialize in raptors--though she admits she will never turn down a crow.
Suzie Gilbert's memoir is of interest to wildlife rehabbers, who will certainly identify with Suzie's experiences and lessons learned, or anyone who has wondered what it would be like to be a backyard rehabilitator. Bird-lovers will be charmed and touched by her anecdotes about the birds with which she's shared her life, and any reader can appreciate the warmth and wit of Gilbert's insights on a life that's for the birds.
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