OCTOBER 2008
Community Paper
“Bird Lady” Ann Young Flies To Heaven
For 31 years, ann Young, the “Bird Lady,” dedicated her life to the rescue, rehabilitation and release of injured and orphaned birds. She was proof that one person CAN change the world. Her passing on August 31, 2008 will forever affect our injured and baby bird population. She was 63.
Ann Young’s home was not just a house. It was what the name of her foundation truly implied, the Ann Young Wild Bird Sanctuary. The one word sums in all up, “Sanctuary”. It was not just a haven and refuge for the injured and infirm feathered creatures, but it was truly a “sanctuary” for those of us who truly knew and loved Ann. The minute you walked inside her front door, you left the real world outside. You were truly transcended into the “spirit world”. A special sense of tranquility came over you.
Ann’s house filled to the rafters each March through September with baby birds all needing to be fed every 20 minutes. The rest of the year, there were “only” a couple dozen hungry mouths to feed. There were also broken wings to set. Antibiotics to give.
Although the pace could be hectic from morning until night, it was where Ann wanted to be, doing what she did best, loving and caring for the “winged ones” who could not care for themselves. Certainly she would become exhausted, but she always came back for the next season with great enthusiasm and anticipation.
Ann did not place much value on the material things that life had to offer. To say she was poor is a great misnomer. If you could ask her now, she would tell you that she was rich beyond words. Her wealth came in the successes of treating sick and injured birds, helping just one more person to understand what truly devastating effects yard chemicals could have on wildlife, enjoying the unending beauty of nature, and the friends that she held near and dear. There was no way to measure the joy she felt when she was finally able to release a bird back into the wild and to watch it soar away. This was not Ann’s job, but rather her passion.
Ann did not keep up with the latest fashion trends, yet she was blessed with beauty and grace. Her beauty was her spirit and her smile. Her grace was that she made all of us feel special just by being in her presence. She helped us to truly see the miracles of God’s creations as they were meant to be seen, with purity and a sense of wonderment.
Ann was most comfortable in a Native American tee shirt, a pair of black jeans, sandals, with a cup of black coffee, and a lit ”red” More Cigarette. In the background, flute music would be playing. This was her element. For her, a gourmet meal was eating New England clam chowder out of the can. She did not try to impress anyone or be someone that she was not. Ann was truly one of the very few people who was “genuinely real.”
She is survived by her son Bill Young of Winter Park.
There is an awesome video online that shows Ann talking and taking care of baby birds. See it at http://growingbolder.com/media/living/pets/bird-lady-flies-home-195200.html
This article is a compilation of comments from that video.
A memorial service was held for her at Leu Gardens on Sunday, September 29th. With bagpipes lilting (in honor of her Scotland heritage), and Native American children singing, family and friends were able to release her spirit to the Heavens, just as Anne released so many birds back to the sky.
Anne Young has her own wings now. She is a Freebird. She will truly be missed by humans and birds alike.
If you want to help keep her dream alive, Donations can be sent to: Ann Young Memorial Fund,
c/o Ann Young Wild Bird Refuge,
205 Robin Road, Altamonte Springs, FL 32701
P.S. It is an old wive’s tale that an animal’s (yes, including birds) mother will not accept it once a human has touched it. If you know where the nest is and that the mother is around it can be placed back in its nest.
