Kamilia Smith - Final Photo Project

For as long as I can remember I have loved animals and wanted to work with them. Through these
photos, I hope to shine a light on something people tend not to think about, which is bird rescue.
Though we often see cases of rescue with cats and dogs, it isn’t as often seen with other animals.
Through rehabilitation, you get an experience that you can’t get anywhere else--you get up close
and personal with animals and get to watch every step of their recovery until (hopefully) they are
able to be released back into the wild or placed in their forever homes. Though the process is
extensive and difficult at times, there is nothing like the feeling you get when an animal who had no
chance without you now has one.

For this project, I visited a few bird rescue and wildlife rehabilitation centers in order to get some
photos of the process and what goes on. These included Second Chance Wildlife Rehabilitation,
Southwest Wildlife Foundation, and Avian Sanctuary and Protection . I was able to meet birds from
both domestic and wildlife rescues and hear each of their stories. One of the animals photographed
was a young red-tailed hawk who was electrocuted, then stuck on the ground for days without food or
water. It came to the center thin and weak, where it was hand fed. Others included several parrots
who were taken from stressful environments, a half blind screech owl, and a golden eagle who was
hit by a car. To me, birds are one of the most fascinating and underappreciated animals. As you look
at the rescues on the pages of this book, I hope you will learn to love them as much as I do.