Photo by Sydney Cromwell.
Katie Stubblefield Alabama Wildlife Center
Katie Stubblefield, left, examines a great horned owl with a fractured bone at the Alabama Wildlife Center.
Alabama Wildlife Center
663-7930 • 100 Terrace Drive, Oak Mountain State Park, Pelham
For Katie Stubblefield, working at the Alabama Wildlife Center happened by chance. She studied mechanical engineering at The University of Alabama, but an interest in biology led her to start volunteering at the center and eventually become an avian intern. Now, more than a decade later, Stubblefield is the center’s fulltime wildlife rehabilitator.
“I was really in tune with it, and I enjoyed it. It’s hard to find a job that you enjoy,” Stubblefield said. “I never knew [the center] was here until I was in college. I think I missed out.”
The Wildlife Center was started in 1977 and moved to its current location in Oak Mountain State Park in 1982. The center was originally open to any type of injured wildlife, but as it grew, it chose to focus on rehabilitation of wild birds due to high demand. It is now the largest rehabilitation center in the state and cares for more than 1,800 birds per year and 150 to 200 birds at a time during the peak summer months.
Local residents or the center’s volunteers find and bring in orphaned or injured birds, and Stubblefield is in charge of coordinating the bird’s rehabilitation. She is involved in every step of the birds’ care, from diagnosing problems and creating care regimens to the eventual release. She treats birds of every age and size, from red-tailed hawks and herons to tiny hummingbirds.
“I do everything from the most intensive care to general cleaning and rehabbing and everything in between,” Stubblefield said.
The Wildlife Center has facilities for every stage of the birds’ recovery. There are incubators for hatchlings and specialized cages to keep birds from flying while still recovering, as well as larger “flight cages” and enclosures with pools for birds to regain strength prior to release.
The center funds its efforts through donations from local businesses and dues from annual members, as well as fundraising events like the December Craft and Bake Sale and the February “Wild for Chocolate” formal event. It also relies heavily on the work of volunteers, who fill a variety of roles depending on their abilities. Stubblefield said one man continued to volunteer until he was 85, coming in every week to chop fruit and fold laundry.
“Everybody has their niche,” Stubblefield said. “We always need people who are excited to give the birds a chance.”
Education is also a large part of the Wildlife Center’s mission. Many rehabilitation centers don’t have the space for educational programs, but the center is able to host summer programs, “Owl-O-Ween” in October and monthly lectures from October to May. The center also has “ambassador birds” that participate in programs at the center, the Treetop Nature Trail and other locations.
“We’re the only place like this in the Birmingham area,” Stubblefield said. “We can provide an education for people who never even realize this exists.”
Because her own volunteer experience was so rewarding, Stubblefield hopes the education programs will encourage more people, especially children, to volunteer their time at the center. Although her job entails long hours, Stubblefield said it’s worth it to see each successful release.
“It takes up most of my time. I can honestly tell you I haven’t turned my TV on in two weeks,” Stubblefield said. “I spend probably a good bit of my time, effort and energy here, and I love it.”
