First Responders Step Up for the Birds at Santa Barbara Retirement Center 

First responders are often seen at Valle Verde retirement community for medical emergencies, but on a recent Saturday afternoon, an officer with City Animal Control appeared with a crew from the City Fire Department for a different kind of rescue.

Valle Verde resident Julia Springer was headed out on an errand with her husband, Jerry, when he noticed a mother quail pacing frantically back and forth on a drain cover at the end of the parking area.

[Click to enlarge] Just another day in the life of a city animal control officer as baby quail huddled together in the bottom right corner of the drain hole. | Photo: Julia Springer