Terns of Endearment

Birds don’t smile. Neither do turtles. Not at least that we can see.

But they can make me smile – and never so much as when the spark of life that exists in all creatures meets up with the big hearts of people at The HSUS’ South Florida Wildlife Center.

The HSUS and our family of affiliates provided direct care to more than 100,000 animals in 2012 – more than any other animal group. That’s a big number, but what matters most is the impact on those individual lives – from the largest bison to the smallest seabird.

Here, in this short video, let’s watch the most important seconds in the lives of three orphaned least terns and a single soft-shell turtle – the instant of their release after rescue and rehab at our center.

The dedicated staff at the center call it a happy ending. I think we can also say it’s a joyous beginning.

It reminds me to say thanks to the many of you who support our work at The Humane Society of the United States. With your support, we’re there for all animals – great and small.