“Each bird has its own personality,” stated songbird rehabber Lynda LaCoax. 

“Blue Jays are mostly jerks, robins are the hobbits of the bird world, starlings are Mad Max-esque, chaotic birds, finches think they are dinosaurs and bigger than they are, and crows are people. Each species of bird has their own thing that makes them unique.”

Her light-hearted look at the quirky personalities of individual bird species belies a deep devotion to rescuing injured animals and providing a resource to those in her community looking to do the same. 

Lynda rescues, rehabs, and releases between 30 and 70 birds annually, and she’s done so for the last 20 years. 

That’s a minimum of 600 birds saved. 

600 pairs of tiny wings that found the wind again because of the efforts of one talented, passionate Cookeville citizen.

 While she can’t take on every case, she’s here to help and be the bridge between injury and healing. 

“In Tennessee, backyard songbirds and small songbirds can be rescued and released as long as you have the proper know-how. That’s where I live. For anything that the TWRA would take, larger birds or birds of prey for example, I have contacts so that those birds can be treated correctly. But what I do is the rescue, rehab, and release of small songbirds.” She continued, “These are little guys that most rehabs won’t take because they don’t have the resources or staff to care for them. It’s not that bird rehabs are bad places. Little birds have VERY specific needs. Some of these little guys need specific care, constantly. It’s not easy to do. And, speaking of which,  always remember, if anyone ever tells you to give a baby songbird dog or cat food, they can not survive it. Little things like that require experience and knowledge of what these animals actually need to properly provide treatment.”

Lynda’s commitment to altering lives through her expertise is not limited to small birds. 

“I am also a holistic health coach and personal trainer. I don’t look at your body in pieces, I address the whole. I look at nutrition as medicine and movement as therapy.” She elaborated, “I treated an eastern bluebird with a broken wing last year. I cleaned off the wound and used a biodynamic healing device that I use in my (holistic medicine) practice alongside the work of Jamie Wyskiver (Love Life Chiropractic) who adjusted the bird as well. It flew out of my hand two weeks later.”

When asked what her favorite thing about working with injured birds is, Lynda teared up but didn’t hesitate. Her answer serves as (in my opinion) the perfect conclusion to this feature. 

“Pretty much any outdoor animal can survive without us. They don’t need us. With Indoor pets, it’s different of course. They couldn’t survive without you if they wanted. When rescuing, rehabbing, and releasing these birds, you have the ability to take care of a part of nature that picks you over everyone else.” She concluded, “For that last week of treatment before they leave the nest, they get adventurous but clingy. This wild animal is in your house and they decide that you’re their person. It’s beautiful. It’s the closest description of what authentic love really is. I don’t need you, I don’t require you, I just want you to be there.”

To report an injured bird, contact Lynda via her Facebook Page (Riona Lefay). To learn more about the holistic approaches to wellness Lynda offers at her practice visit lifesupporthh.com/.