Downsview Park management has now given us a verbal commitment to extend our lease to the end of December, 2013. Although this is still an incredibly tight timeline to find a new location, plan a major renovation or new construction, raise all the money needed to do that, carry out the renovation / construction work, and move, it is still helpful to have the extra time.

We are constantly working on the problem of finding a new home, following leads and looking for new ones. Although there have been some interesting suggestions made, the process is proving to be very slow. It takes weeks to set up meetings, and there are obstacles to many of the suggested sites--two are designated heritage so we would not be allowed to modify anything to accommodate our work, and one is a beautiful building but is condemned because of mold. Any animal-loving mold remediators out there?

Some highly skilled volunteers have come forward and offered their help to work on the problem with us, and to start to assemble a team and plan for the capital campaign that will soon need to start. We’re really grateful to have the extra help.

Meanwhile, things in the wildlife world haven’t changed. Migratory birds are starting to come back into the area – we admitted our first one, an American woodcock, on March 7^th. Babies are starting to be born, which means soon we’ll be inundated with calls about orphans or injured babies in need of help.

We’re worried about how we’re going to handle the usual spring wildlife craziness while also working on finding a new home. Wish us luck!