Neepawa Bird Sanctuary continues to soar
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- Published on Saturday, April 28, 2018
By Eoin Devereux
Neepawa Banner & Press
The future outlook of Neepawa’s Bird Sanctuary is on an upward trajectory. Sanctuary core committee member Brenda Ferguson has noted that the popular local attraction is coming out of the winter months in very good shape. She said that it’s the efforts of a dedicated group of volunteers that has ensured that’s the case.
“Unofficially, we have about 15 individuals, who assist with the feeding of the animals. With that amount of people helping, it ensures the work is manageable for everyone and no one person is ever overwhelmed by the responsibilities. Other individuals have also offered support in other ways. One person I know told me ‘If you have any little handyman jobs to do, call me up’, So that’s great. We have a number of people willing to do things like that,” said Ferguson.
The core committee consists of Ferguson, Richard Masters and Krista Speiss. Over the winter, the committee, as well as the volunteers, worked together to look after a few necessary repairs and upgrades to the barn, ensuring that the birds would be comfortable over the extended cold weather. Ferguson indicated that it’s that type of due diligence that allows them to be ready for what they’re expecting to be a hectic summer tourism season.
Fundraising ideas
Many new initiatives are expected to be an important part of the bird sanctuary moving ahead, some of which are focused specifically on fundraising. Ferguson suggested that the first one coming up is actually very interesting because it involves peacock feathers.
“Over the winter, the peacocks molt, so we collected the feathers and are planning on selling them. We do have few of them available, so we’ll start selling them [this week] for about $5.00 each, anyone interested can speak with a committee member or make a request through our Facebook page,” Ferguson stated. “I was at a craft store in the United States last summer and happen to see them on sale there. I was quite surprised to see them there on sale for $15 dollars each. I thought ‘Well there’s a market there for them.’ I hadn’t realized there was such a potential market. So recently, when it was suggested, I thought ‘why not?’”
Another new variety of fundraiser being organized is a frozen turkey shoot on Saturday, May 26 at the Neepawa Junior Rifle Club. The event has been scheduled to coincide with the Neepawa & District Chamber of Commerce Fair. The shoot will feature five different age categories and will be promoted through the sanctuary’s social media in the near future.
New additions
The expansion of the bird population is likely to take place in 2018. Jake Birch, who used to be the main caretaker for the bird sanctuary will assist with that effort. Birch has indicated a willingness to attend upcoming bird sales and offer some guidance in that area.
Ferguson added that another new addition to the sanctuary for this year is actually a bit of a pleasant surprise.
“The big news, which will probably be the highlight of the summer, if everything goes well, is that Clover [the goat] is pregnant and she is due June 28. I was asked how that happened because we only have the one goat. Well, what’s going on with that, is that Clover spends the winter on a farm near Plumas. It’s just better for her to be boarded someplace else in the winter because she gets a little antsy in the barn. So, when we learned of this, we the local vet to discuss how to best care for her in this state and when and if it is best to move her back. We haven’t decided yet when we’ll move her back, because we want to ensure her pregnancy is safe and that she has the care needed. But, either way, whether she gives birth before or after her move back home, we’re thinking of doing a contest to name the baby goat. Once the kid arrives, you can enter the contest and suggest your name and the winner will get their picture taken with the goat and submitted to the Banner & Press,” Ferguson said.
A few other potential additions will be a bit more inanimate, as some new signage for the birds and improved fencing are also on the to-do list, time and finances permitting. Ferguson noted that it’s all part of their ongoing efforts to constantly improve and upgrade the sanctuary.
The bird sanctuary first opened in 2000 through the efforts of the Neepawa Rotary Club and Neepawa Wildlife Association. Over the course of those nearly two decades in operation, it’s become a well-regarded mainstay for Neepawa, drawing in visitors both locally and from across the province.
