International Bird Rescue Research Center

Our New Nest: www.Bird-Rescue.org

2011-04-22T11:22:00.000-07:00

As we celebrate our 40th year, International Bird Rescue is excited to debut both a shortened name and a new look that pays homage to our past while firmly planting us in the here and now, and visually reinforcing our hard-earned reputation for quality, professionalism, and leadership in the field of aquatic bird rescue and rehabilitation. This refreshed spirit will help introduce us to a broader audience and enhance our ability to help the birds we exist to protect.

Our new website, including our current blog, can be found at www.Bird-Rescue.org.

We hope that you enjoy both our new look and, as you read our stories, the remembrances of all we've accomplished on behalf of the birds we've helped. We could not have done it without your ongoing support, and we look forward to working together to make a difference in the lives of magnificent seabirds for years to come.

Celebrating Jay Holcomb, Our Ocean Hero

2011-04-16T00:01:00.000-07:00

April 2011 is a big month for us in more ways than one. The 20th will mark not only the one-year anniversary of the Deepwater Horizon oil spill, but also International Bird Rescue Research Center’s 40th anniversary. If these two milestones weren’t enough, today our beloved Director Emeritus and Oceana’s 2010 ‘Ocean Hero,’ Jay Holcomb, celebrates his 60th birthday.

Jay was at the helm of International Bird Rescue Research Center as Executive Director for the best part of the last 24 years. Our team of wildlife specialists has responded to over 200 oil spills, and Jay has led our team on most of these occasions. I like to think of him as the Red Adair of oiled wildlife response.

I’m sure that there are many people who have Jay to thank for their connection and eventual dedication to this unique field of work; that is certainly my story. Having met Jay in France after an oil spill in January 2000, he persuaded me later that year to board a plane for Cape Town, South Africa, and join the unprecedented international rescue effort to save 20,000 oiled African Penguins. I would not be here at International Bird Rescue writing this email if I had not responded to that call.

Hundreds of oil spills and tens of thousands of birds later, Jay has not lost an ounce of his boundless energy, his larger-than-life personality, or his passion for the wildlife he has dedicated his life to protecting. As we reflect back on his incredible contributions to date, we also look forward to people and wildlife benefiting from Jay’s unique expertise for many more years to come.

So, on behalf of the people and animals whose lives you have touched, we wish you a very happy birthday, Jay. We salute you and will most definitely raise a glass in your honor.

Paul Kelway
Executive Director
International Bird Rescue Research Center

Patti Pelican and The Gulf Oil Spill Benefits International Bird Rescue Research Center

2011-04-13T09:21:00.000-07:00

Author Lynda Deniger has brilliantly crafted a factual story about the plight of birds who were oiled, captured, cleaned and rehabilitated by caring humans during the Gulf oil spill. Her book, Patti Pelican and The Gulf Oil Spill, is a marvelous educational tool that will help children understand the importance and value of preserving and protecting our environment while conveying a message of hope and inspiring environmental stewardship in children and adults alike.

The author will generously donate 20% of all sales made through this link
http://saltyseasandfriends.com/pattiPelican_ibrrc.html
to International Bird Rescue Research Center.

HBO's Saving Pelican 895 Wins Best Documentary

2011-04-10T08:19:00.000-07:00

Hello everyone,

Thursday night was the West Coast premiere of Saving Pelican 895, the HBO documentary that Director Irene Taylor Brodsky filmed with us in Louisiana last summer during the Deepwater Horizon spill. Featured in the film, Mark Russell and I were invited to attend the premiere and participate in the Q&A session afterward. The premiere, which was in Irene’s hometown of Portland, Oregon, drew an unprecedented crowd of more than 600 guests to the auditorium of the Portland Art Museum. Earlier that day, 300 students participated in an advance screening.

The film follows the story of the 895th oiled Pelican treated during the spill from its capture to its release. Viewers recognized that 895 stood as a symbol of the care that each bird received, and were struck – and deeply moved - by the level of attention given to a single animal.

International Bird Rescue Research Center’s tagline is “every bird matters,” and the movie truly embodies this philosophy. Irene’s simple telling of this bird’s experience reminds us of the significance of the life of each and every animal that needs our care, and just how critical our work is – not just during a crisis – but every day.

We just learned that Saving Pelican 895 won the Best Documentary award at the prestigious Vail Film Festival. We would like to congratulate Irene Brodsky and HBO for their win.

The movie will have its East Coast premiere in New York on April 14, and will air on HBO beginning on April 20, the one-year anniversary of the Deepwater Horizon spill. It is my sincere hope that you will take the time to watch the film, and that you find it as meaningful as we did.

Jay Holcomb
Director Emeritus
International Bird Rescue Research Center (IBRRC)

HBO air dates and times for Saving Pelican 895

4/20/2011 9:00 p.m.
4/23/2011 12:00 p.m.
4/26/2011 12:00 a.m.
4/26/2011 5:00 p.m.
4/29/2011 6:45 a.m.
4/30/2011 5:35 a.m.
5/05/2011 2:00 p.m.

Note: Please check local listings

Media reports:

Screening of Irene Taylor Brodsky's Saving Pelican 895 draws a full house

Filmmaker Interview: Irene Taylor Brodsky on “Saving Pelican 895”

Catastrophic South Atlantic Oil Spill Threatens Endangered Rockhopper Penguins

2011-03-21T21:46:00.000-07:00

Hello everyone,

There has been a catastrophic oil spill on a remote island in the mid-South Atlantic Ocean that is threatening an entire colony of endangered Northern Rockhopper Penguins.

The MS Oliva ran aground on Nightingale Island, one of three islands of the Tristan da Cunha group, on March 16, 2011. All 22 crew were rescued before the ship broke up and leaked oil into the sea. The freighter was shipping soya beans from Rio de Janeiro to Singapore. It is said to be also carrying 1,650 tons of heavy crude oil.

Nightingale Island is regarded as one of the world's most important wildlife habitats. The island is home to 40% of the world’s population of Northern Rockhopper Penguins (photo, above), and about 20,000 have already been confirmed oiled.

There are species of albatross, petrels and shearwaters that nest on these islands. However, all of the reports of oiled birds have been about the penguins. The likely reason for this is that many of the flighted bird species fly out to sea before landing on water, thereby avoiding the oil along the coastline. Since the penguins are not flighted, they have to swim through it to get to the islands, making them the most vulnerable and highly impacted.

IBRRC’s colleagues at The Southern African Foundation for the Conservation of Coastal Birds (SANCCOB) are leading bird rescue and rehabilitation efforts and will soon be en-route. You may remember that IBRRC has worked with SANCCOB in four different oil spills in Cape Town, South Africa. Most notably, in the Apollo Sea oil spill in 1995 we helped care for 10,000 oiled African Penguins, and during the 2000 Treasure oil spill we helped manage the rehabilitation of another 20,000.

View Larger Map

According to the IUCN Red List of Threatened Species, the current Northern Rockhopper Penguin population in the Tristan da Cunha island group is estimated 18-27,000 at Inaccessible Island, 3,200-4,500 at Tristan. Nightingale and Middle Islands were estimated to support 125,000 pairs in the 1970s, but recent observations suggest that the main colony on Nightingale has decreased in size.

Logistics are difficult at best. An old fishing factory will be used as a rehab center. There is limited water, and no airport, so supplies are either air-dropped there or are brought by ship every few months or so. All people must arrive by ship, and it takes 4 days to get there from Cape Town, South Africa. Many of the birds have been oiled for over a week, which limits their chances of survival. The birds cannot be removed from the islands and brought to the mainland due to disease transmission concerns.

IBRRC has been in touch with SANCCOB and, along with other leading international wildlife groups, is providing support by phone as their team prepares to mobilize. SANCCOB’s team will be arriving at the islands on Sunday, March 27th, and has asked IBRRC’s trained and experienced team to be prepared to offer support. There are 300 people living on Tristan Island, and 100 of them are available to help with the penguins.

This is a truly grave situation for the Rockhopper Penguin colony and the ultimate challenge for wildlife rehabilitators. SANCCOB is the most experienced penguin rehabilitation organization in the world and we have full confidence in their ability to set up the best possible program for these birds. IBRRC’s team is coming together, and will send help when asked, and continue to support the SANCCOB team as needed. We will keep you updated as we receive information.

Jay Holcomb
Director Emeritus
International Bird Rescue Research Center (IBRRC)

More information:

Atlantic oil spill threatens endangered penguins: Seattle Times

Locals helping roundup penguins on Nightingale Island

Tristan da Cunha, the Loneliest Island on Earth

Photo: Northern Rockhopper Penguin at Berlin Zoological Garden, Germany, used by via Creative Commons

Natural Seep Oiled Birds Continue to Flood IBRRC

2011-03-07T00:15:00.000-08:00

At the end of January, International Bird Rescue Research Center (IBRRC) reported that nearly 50 oiled birds had been brought in for care after being coated with oil in a natural seep event along the Southern California coast. Since then, more than 64 new birds severely impacted by this heavy, sticky oil have arrived in our Los Angeles area rehabilitation clinic - 41 of them since February 22.

Species include many Western and Clark's Grebes, Common Murres, Pacific Loons, California Gulls, Western Gulls, Red-throated Loons, a Northern Fulmar and a Common Loon.

Oil seeps occur naturally all along the coast of California, notably in the Santa Barbara Channel near Coal Oil Point. This area emits about 5,280 to 6,600 gallons of oil per day. Oil can be lethally harmful to seabirds—particularly to diving birds that spend a great deal of time on the surface of the water where the oil sits. It interferes with the birds’ ability to maintain their body temperature by impairing the natural insulation and waterproofing properties of their feathers, which can result in hypothermia, as their metabolisms try to combat the cold. Oiled birds often beach themselves in this weakened state, and become easy prey for other animals.

Preparing for Natural Seep Oiled Birds

IBRRC knows, from 40 years of experience, to anticipate these birds every year, with the largest number coming in during the winter months. This year, however, has been a particularly challenging one, as severe storms move seep oil around at a time when large numbers of migratory birds are utilizing offshore areas as their feeding grounds.

Who pays for their care?

In the case of a natural event, there is no responsible party to cover the costs of caring for oiled wildlife, and IBRRC and other rehabilitation organizations rely heavily on the public’s help. California's Oiled Wildlife Care Network (OWCN) has generously provided some funding, yet the remaining costs to treat and care for these birds continues to grow as more oil disperses along the coast.

Please consider making a donation today. Every bird matters, and so does every gift.

Coming in April: HBO's "Saving Pelican 895"

2011-03-06T10:29:00.000-08:00

Next month HBO's documentary Saving Pelican 895 will debut on cable. Its directed by Oscar nominee and Peabody winner Irene Taylor Brodsky (HBO’s “The Final Inch” and “Hear and Now”).

The movie tells the gripping story of the rescue of a Brown Pelican “LA 895,” one of the many oiled bird victims of the 2010 BP Gulf oil spill, cared by International Bird Rescue and Tri-State Bird Rescue response members at the Fort Jackson Oiled Wildlife Rehabilitation Center in Venice, Louisiana.

The film features interviews with IBRRC staff and follows the pelican from capture to treatment to its relase back to the wild.

We'll keep you updated on exact April 2011 viewing times.

Gulf Spill: Working Together for Wildlife Award

2011-03-05T12:20:00.000-08:00

Emergency response teams from International Bird Rescue Research Center (IBRRC) and three other wildlife organizations have received national recognition for collaborative care of oiled animals during the 2010 Gulf Oil Spill.

The Marlys J. Bulander Working Together for Wildlife Award was presented to IBRRC, Tri-State Bird Rescue & Research, Louisiana State Animal Response Team (LSART) and the LSU School of Veterinary Medicine. The announcement was made at the annual National Wildlife Rehabilitators Association (NWRA) meeting in Albany, New York.

This award is given to those who have brought together individuals, organizations, rehabilitation facilities, and agencies in a cooperative effort to make a positive difference for wildlife.

The four organizations joined forces to care for the thousands of birds and other animals affected by the Deepwater Horizon oil spill in April 2010 off the coast of Louisiana. Together they built, organized and ran four oiled bird rehabilitation centers – the first in Ft. Jackson, Louisiana and second in Hammond, LA. The others were set up in Alabama and Mississippi. They also helped manage oiled wildlife stabilization sites at Grand Isle, Venice, and Intra-Coastal City, LA.

IBRRC had about 90 members of its response team helping in four states in the Gulf of Mexico region. This collaborative effort has led to the release of 1,170 birds to date.

NWRA judges praised the speed and purpose with which the teams responded to the largest oil spill in United States history, as more than 200 million gallons of crude spilled from a ruptured drilling rig 45 miles off the Louisiana coast.

IBRRC is celebrating its 40th anniversary this year, and is a world leader in oiled wildlife emergency response, rehabilitation, research and education. Its team of specialists has led rescue efforts in over 200 oil spills in 11 States, two U.S. territories, and 7 different countries.

IBRRC is equally proud of the care it provides to the more than 5,000 injured, hungry, or orphaned birds that come into its two California wildlife care centers each year. It is committed to ensuring that every bird impacted by changes to their environment is given hope to survive and thrive.

More info: International Bird Rescue Research Center

Duck Doing Well After Treatment for a Belly Full of Lead

2011-02-17T09:38:00.000-08:00

A male mallard is in recovery this week after the successful removal of BB pellets from his stomach by International Bird Rescue Research Center (IBRRC) staff.

The drake arrived in late January at IBRRC’s Southern California center, and was not able to stand or walk. He was very dehydrated, had poor blood values, and was clearly in distress

When he was x-rayed, IBRRC staff discovered approximately 30 BBs in his stomach.

On February 1, staff members anesthetized the mallard and flushed out the pellets, using warm water and gavage tubing. Two days later he was able to stand again, and began recovery in Bird Rescue’s warm water hospital pools.

He is improving each day.

IBRRC has been saving aquatic birds around the world since 1971, and is a world leader in emergency response, rehabilitation, research and education. Its team of specialists has led oiled wildlife rescue efforts in over 200 oil spills in 11 States, two U.S. territories, and 7 different countries. Bird rescue is equally proud of the care it provides to the 5,000 injured, hungry, or orphaned birds that come into its centers each year. It is committed to ensuring that every bird impacted by changes to their environment is given hope to survive and thrive.

More info: International Bird Rescue Research Center

Natural Oil Seep Prompts Bird Rescue in Calif.

2011-01-25T13:42:00.000-08:00

Nearly 50 oiled birds have been in care this month at International Bird Rescue Research Center (IBRRC) after being coated with oil in a natural seep event along the Southern California coast.

Since January 6, 2011, IBRRC has received 28 Western Grebes, 18 Common Murres, a Common Loon, a Pacific Loon and a Clark’s Grebe.

IBRRC receives many birds that are contaminated with natural seep oil in our rehabilitation clinics year round. Birds are often severely impacted by this heavy, sticky oil, and it presents numerous challenges to our rehabilitation staff.

Oil seeps occur naturally all along the coast of California, notably in the Santa Barbara Channel near Coal Oil Point. This area emits about 5,280 to 6,600 gallons of oil per day. Natural seeps have been active for hundreds to thousands of years and have been documented by early explorers and by coast-dwelling Chumash Indians who used the oil in many ways including waterproofing baskets and constructing wooden canoes.

Impact to Birds

Oil can be lethally harmful to seabirds—particularly to diving birds that spend a great deal of time on the surface of the water where the oil sits. It interferes with the birds’ ability to maintain their body temperature by impairing the natural insulation and waterproofing properties of their feathers, which can result in loss of body weight, as their metabolisms try to combat the cold, and death from hypothermia. Oiled birds often beach themselves in this weakened state, and consequently become easy prey for other animals.

Preparing for Natural Seep Oiled Birds

Each bird that is impacted by natural seep oil is part of a larger population, but we know that every one is important in its own right and deserves the best possible care. We also know, from 40 years of experience, to anticipate these birds every year, with the largest number of birds coming in during the winter months. At this time of year, storms tend to move seep oil around while large numbers of migratory birds are utilizing offshore areas as their feeding grounds. Since their arrival at our rehabilitation clinics is predictable, we have endeavored to schedule our international interns around the birds’ arrival so that our trainees can be immersed in the complexities of oiled bird rehabilitation. The interns get invaluable, one-of-a-kind experience and the birds get the highest quality care.

Who pays for their care?

IBRRC has received natural seep oiled birds since our inception in 1971. As this is considered a “natural” event, with no responsible party, IBRRC and other wildlife rehabilitation organizations rely on the public to help cover the costs of caring for these birds. In recent years California's Oiled Wildlife Care Network (OWCN) has generously provided some funding, however, the remaining cost is substantial in stormy years like this one when more natural seep oil is dispersed along the coast.

Please consider making a donation today. Every bird matters, and so does every gift.

Jay Holcomb's 25 years of IBRRC leadership

2011-01-25T12:05:00.000-08:00

Dear friends,

On January 10, 2011, I officially turned the reins of International Bird Rescue Research Center (IBRRC) over to Paul Kelway. He is now the Executive Director of IBRRC, functioning in an updated and reconstructed position that will allow him to lead the organization into the future. I am certain that he will do this very well, as he is a compassionate, intelligent and capable person. I will be working with him, the staff and our Board of Directors on a daily basis, but Paul holds the responsibility of guiding IBRRC and meeting its mission.

I want to share with you something that I think is important. Earlier this year I received two awards that are meaningful to the field of wildlife rehabilitation and conservation and wanted to explain to you why I think that they are significant. I was hard at work with the Deepwater Horizon Oil Spill in the Gulf of Mexico last summer when Oceana’s Ocean Hero award was given to me, so I was not in the position to say much about it. I was really honored to receive it and I love what it stands for. Then in September 2010, I also received the John Muir Conservationist of the Year award. I realized that although these awards honored me, they were actually acknowledging the message of our work, “recognizing animals and nature as important and worthy of our attention.”

I am a wildlife rehabilitator; that’s been my career and my life. All I have ever wanted to get across was the value, importance and beauty of animals, and to accept some accountability and responsibility for their welfare – especially when they are impacted by human activity. This desire was born out of watching and befriending animals as a kid, and by listening to disturbing things that people thought of them. Very early in my life, I became aware that I had a sense of purpose that I could not shake– nor did I want to – so I just lived as I was compelled to. At age 5 or so, I became aware of an intense desire to help animals but had no idea how to make it happen. I held that knowingness in my mind, knew it would happen, and basically allowed it to unfold in front of me. I spent the next 40 years or so working with companion animals and rehabilitating wild animals.

In a nutshell, that’s how it happened for me. I want everyone to know that these two awards are really a major win for wildlife rehabilitation and for the preservation of nature. I mean, I’m a coot, raccoon and gull (very common species) rehabilitator being recognized as a Hero and Conservationist of the Year in the name of the great John Muir? That in itself is extraordinary, because if you look at my achievements you will see that they are all about helping “common” individual wild animals – animals that are discarded as unimportant. I guarantee you that this is exactly how they are held in the minds of most people. If that were not true, then we would not have endangered species and massive loss of habitat. That evidence is all around us and it points to our own attitudes. Early on, I became aware of the skewed outlook that many people had about animals and nature. I have always felt that all life is equal, and the keys to the kingdom, so to speak, are held in nature and in the simplest of animals. They should be revered, protected and adored as they are the most misunderstood living things on earth, yet carry sacred knowledge that we all want and strive to understand. Who are we? What’s it all about? Just look at all of the religious figures and naturalists alike who went into nature and observed it to find the answers to all of their deepest questions and challenges.

The fact that two prestigious conservation organizations have recognized me, a simple wildlife rehabilitator who sees all animals as equal and deserving of our compassion, means that they too consider wildlife rehabilitation a valid endeavor.

During the Deepwater Horizon Oil Spill I was constantly asked by reporters, “Why is it important to care for these animals?” I think it’s obvious, but clearly not everyone does. Keep in mind that two highly respected environmental organizations, Oceana and the John Muir Society, just recognized a wildlife rehabilitator and his work in putting the common and simple animals on the pedestal by honoring me with these awards. That is why these awards are valid and important; they recognize a wildlife rehabilitator who has spent a great portion of his life caring for all animals, endangered to common, and sees the value in all of them.

In essence, my life has been living my message to the world; it always has been. The last 25 years have been a wild ride that took me all over the world, exposed horrible atrocities to me, and allowed me to touch and help wild animals - a privilege that I have never taken for granted. IBRRC became an avenue for me to express myself and carry on my mission. I am beyond grateful to IBRRC’s founder, Alice Berkner, for seeing something in me and bringing me on board in 1986, and for all that IBRRC has given me! You can be a great writer or painter, but without paper or canvas you are just a dreamer. My canvas has been IBRRC, and I will never forget that without it I would have been just another dreamer.

Another thing I learned from nature was to evolve myself, as nature does. I am doing that by letting go of the directorship of IBRRC, and am now the Director Emeritus and ready for whatever that brings. I don’t know how it will unfold but I think the upcoming year will bring about great opportunities for IBRRC and me. I officially close this chapter and open a new one.

That’s all for now. Power to the coots, the raccoons and the gulls . . . all the animals . . . even the starlings!

Jay Holcomb
Director Emeritus
International Bird Rescue Research Center (IBRRC)

Remembering 1971 San Francisco Bay oil spill

2011-01-18T14:05:00.000-08:00

Hello everyone,

Today marks the 40th anniversary of the Oregon Standard Oil Spill, the massive 800,000 gallon spill that occurred in San Francisco Bay in 1971. The concept of International Bird Rescue Research Center (IBRRC) was born in the midst of the spill because it was clear way back in 1971 that oil spills were becoming a part of our reality, and after a quick review it was evident that no organization had developed effective techniques to care for oiled birds. IBRRC was created to do just that - develop techniques and protocols to humanely treat and rehabilitate oiled birds. See: Frequently asked questions

IBRRC’s Founder Alice Berkner, and a handful of others, came up with the concept of IBRRC while trying to help the more than 7,000 birds that filled warehouses around the Bay Area. Most of those birds died, but their deaths were not in vain. The demise of these birds only encouraged people to try harder, and by April of 1971 IBRRC was incorporated as a non-profit organization.

This year we proudly celebrate IBRRC’s 40th anniversary, and throughout the year we will provide more information, interviews and celebrate our accomplishments. In the meantime, let’s take a moment of silence to remember the animals that lost their lives 40 years ago.

Since then, tens of thousands of animals have been recovered and given a second chance thanks to IBRRC and because of one person’s vision and focus. On behalf of all of us who have followed in your path, thank you Alice for your passion and vision, and for creating IBRRC.

Jay Holcomb
Director Emeritus
International Bird Rescue Research Center

Also see: IBRRC History

Thank you for helping rescue birds!

2011-01-14T08:44:00.000-08:00

Dear Friend of IBRRC,

Happy 2011 and thank you so much for your support in 2010!

Thanks to donors like you, International Bird Rescue Research Center raised enough funds in the last week of December to meet our $15,000 matching goal. We are thrilled with this news, as that translates into $30,000 to help treat the sick and injured birds arriving daily in our rescue centers.

We never know when the next wildlife emergency will strike, sending stricken birds to our doors, but thanks to the generosity of IBRRC donors like you, we can be prepared to care for them whenever they arrive.

In 2010, we treated nearly 5,000 birds in our two centers – everything from pelicans to tiny sandpipers to lesser-known fulmars. Last month we also cared for a tundra swan that was found cold and weak in a farmer’s field.

Thank you so much for helping make our work possible and best wishes for a peaceful and happy new year.

Sincerely,

Paul Kelway, Executive Director
Jay Holcomb, Director Emeritus
International Bird Rescue Research Center (IBRRC)

Photo by Kurtis Diffenbaugh

New year, new roles for IBRRC leaders

2011-01-06T10:00:00.000-08:00

Dear Friends,

Happy New Year! As we usher in 2011, International Bird Rescue Research Center is looking forward to a number of very exciting changes that will allow us to continue growing our bird rehabilitation, research and education programs. Our 40th anniversary is coming up in April, and we have many accomplishments to celebrate, thanks to your ongoing support. But there is always more we can do, and to that end, after over 25 years at the helm of IBRRC, I am moving into a new role as Director Emeritus, where I can devote my time more fully to building our bird rescue and rehabilitation programs, while Paul Kelway (photo, on the left) takes over as Executive Director.

Paul has been working with IBRRC since he and I met at an oil spill in France at the beginning of 2000. He worked for the International Fund for Animal Welfare (IFAW) as their ER Manager for Oiled Wildlife for a number of years before actually joining the IBRRC staff in October 2009. He will be leading the organization through an exciting evolution, as we prepare for another 40 years making a difference to the lives of aquatic birds. After 25 years on the front lines of oil spills, algal blooms, and weird weather events, I know the need for dedicated and professional bird rescue is as great as ever, and I look forward to working closely with Paul, and all of you, to meet that need and ensure every single bird we treat has the best possible care.

We've come a long way in 40 years. We have responded to over 200 oil spills and cared for tens of thousands of birds that needed help. I know that together we can do even more going forward!

Sincerely,

Jay Holcomb, Director Emeritus
International Bird Rescue Research Center (IBRRC)
__________________________________________________________

A note from Paul Kelway, IBRRC's new executive director

Dear Friends of IBRRC,

I am humbled and honored to have been asked by Jay and the IBRRC Board to follow in both his and our founder Alice Berkener's footsteps as Executive Director of International Bird Rescue Research Center and certainly hope to do all I can to build on the organization's tremendous achievements to date. I am also delighted that Jay will continue to serve the organization as Director Emeritus where his vast experience and expertise can continue to benefit the lives of aquatic birds as we work together to keep building IBRRC's rescue and rehabilitation capabilities.

We've had a whirlwind 2010, from storm-battered pelicans to the unprecedented Deepwater Horizon oil spill and we are excited to now be starting a fresh chapter in 2011. We will be sprucing up our website, and are excited to debut a new name and look in the spring that reflects our growth over the past 40 years. We will also be working to create a strong foundation that will carry IBRRC through the next four decades. From oil spills and ocean dead zones to climate change, there are many threats to marine wildlife health, and we want to be prepared to meet these and future challenges head-on by providing the best possible care to aquatic birds in need.

With the help of dedicated volunteers and generous individual donors, corporate sponsors, and government partners, we have made huge strides since the 1970's. And we hope you will help us build on that legacy of success in 2011 and in the years ahead.

Sincerely,

Paul Kelway, Executive Director
International Bird Rescue Research Center (IBRRC)

IBRRC's recipe for bird rescue

2010-12-29T07:30:00.000-08:00

Dear Friend of IBRRC,

What does it take to rescue a sick or injured bird?

Every year, IBRRC cares for more than 5,000 stricken aquatic birds at our two California rescue centers.

We are currently caring for dozens of birds oiled by natural seep of oil along our coast, birds impacted by the massive storms that are moving through California and birds with gun shot injuries and fishing line entanglements. We also receive many species of waterfowl like a tundra swan (right photo) that was found cold and weak in a farmer's field.

These birds' lives depend on the kindness of strangers — people like you.

Will you make a contribution to help them? Through December 31, friends of IBRRC will match all donations, dollar for dollar, up to $15,000. That means your support will go twice as far to help birds.

Our centers are the last line of defense for sick and injured birds. If we didn't exist, there would be nowhere else for them to go.

As a result, at any given time we often have hundreds of birds in our care. And we depend heavily on our wonderful volunteers to help a small paid staff keep our clinics open 365 days a year.

IBRRC's recipe for rescue:
1. Capture or admit the stricken bird
2. Perform triage
3. Provide treatment and medication
4. Feed and house in a safe environment
5. Observe, monitor and evaluate for release
6. Release back into the wild

Ingredients: Medicine, Water, sheets, towels, Medical supplies, pools, food and trained staff and volunteers

Costs to feed and care for a recovering bird vary by species, but ranges from $10 to $50 a bird per day.

Please help us continue to rescue these birds. Your donation will be matched, dollar for dollar, through December 31, doubling your impact on helping birds.

Thank you in advance. Your support means so much to us.

Sincerely,

Jay Holcomb, Executive Director
International Bird Rescue Research Center (IBRRC)

P.S. If you prefer to mail a check, please send it to:

IBRRC
c/o 2010 Gift
4369 Cordelia Road
Fairfield, CA 94534
Phone: (707) 207-0380 Ext. 109

Your gift will go twice as far to help birds

2010-12-27T12:18:00.000-08:00

During these last days of 2010 your gift to IBRRC will go twice as far to help birds. Between now and December 31, 2010 a generous donor has agreed to match all gifts, dollar for dollar, up $15,000.

Oiled, injured and sick aquatic birds arrive at one of our two California rescue centers nearly every day. This year, we have treated more than 5,500 birds – and that doesn't count our Gulf Coast oil spill response. Costs for treatment, care, feeding and rehabilitation of most of those birds come from private donations.

Please consider making a tax-deductible year-end contribution to the International Bird Rescue Research Center.

Prefer to mail a check? Please send it here:

IBRRC
4369 Cordelia Road
Fairfield, CA 94534
Phone: (707) 207-0380 Ext. 109

And thanks for your support!

Warm holiday greetings from IBRRC

2010-12-24T17:07:00.000-08:00

Volunteer: Why I help birds for free at IBRRC

2010-12-21T21:42:00.000-08:00

Dear IBRRC Friend,

My name is Karen Sheldon, and I’m a volunteer at IBRRC’s Northern California bird rescue center. From one bird lover to another, I’d like to tell you a little about my experience caring for injured aquatic birds over the past four years.

If you’ve never visited IBRRC’s rescue centers, they’re like nothing you’ve ever seen before. They are not zoos by any means; they’re hospitals. The birds are there for a variety of reasons. But regardless of whether they are sick, injured or oiled, our ultimate goal is the same: to return these birds to the wild.

That’s why I hope you’ll consider making a year-end gift to IBRRC. No matter how large or small, I can guarantee you that your support makes a difference to these birds.

When a bird is ready to return to the wild, one of the volunteers usually drives it out to a release point. We call it “getting a ride out to the beach.” Watching these little guys who have been in our care for days when we open their cages – there’s nothing quite like that moment. Some of them are very cautious – they don’t want to get out of the enclosed space, and they very carefully get into the water. Others immediately rush up to join a group and fly away.

It’s these experiences that make all the long hours cleaning cages and dodging bird bites worth it.

And I can tell you firsthand that IBRRC wouldn’t exist and these releases would not be possible without the donor support. The Northern California center operates on only five paid staff and about 60 volunteers. And in 2010, we admitted more than 2,650 birds for care and treatment. I can’t stress enough how critical donor contributions are to keeping the centers running – and making these “rides out to the beach” possible.

I hope you will help us make more releases possible with your support.

Thank you so much for all you do to help us rescue birds.

Sincerely,

Karen Sheldon
Volunteer, IBRRC Northern California Bird Rescue Center

Success! Another beer can collared gull rescued

2010-12-11T15:10:00.000-08:00

A rescue team from WildRescue and IBRRC captured another beer can collared gull today in San Francisco. The gull had the can removed from its neck and was released.

This is the third bird captured with a cut beer can secured to its neck. This gull was captured at San Francisco State University. The can was removed and the bird had only minor feather damage to its neck. The gull was released quickly back to the wild.

There have been multiple sightings of birds flying around with these neck collars. A $6,500 reward for information leading to an arrest has been in place since November. One bird was rescued last month at Lake Merced and another in Half Moon Bay.

“This is a federal crime punishable by severe fines, imprisonment, or both,” says Rebecca Dmytryk, with WildRescue, the group spearheading this effort. The US Fish & Wildlife Services, who administrate the Migratory Bird Treaty Act under which this act is punishable, has been alerted to these incidents.

WildRescue asks that instead of attempting to capture the birds, which can make them more wary and harder to catch, sightings should be reported immediately by calling (831) 429-2323 or emailing rescue@wildrescue.org.

See earlier report: Who's collaring Bay Area gulls with beer cans?

Media report:

Gull freed of beer-can collar - more need help: San Francisco Chronicle

Every bird matters: Your donation does too!

2010-11-29T22:28:00.000-08:00

Dear friend,

Perhaps you have heard this wonderful and apocryphal story before. It is one I have always found especially pertinent to IBRRC's work.

An old man was walking along the beach and saw in the distance a young boy who appeared to be dancing and gyrating at the ocean’s edge. As the man got closer, he realized that the boy was not dancing at all. The tide had gone out, beaching thousands and thousands of starfish. The boy was throwing starfish one after the other back into the ocean so that they might survive.

“Son, you can’t possibly throw all of those starfish back. How can what you are doing possibly matter,” the old man asked.

As the boy threw yet another starfish back into the safety of the ocean, he replied “it mattered to that one.”

That story captures the heart and soul of IBRRC’s work. It matters to every bird we save.

This holiday season, please consider making a generous contribution to International Bird Rescue Research Center. For the next six days, a generous donor will match your contribution dollar for dollar, up to a total of $5000.

For four decades, IBRRC has been at the forefront of efforts to rescue and rehabilitate seabirds threatened by oil spills, other man-made injuries, and unusual illnesses. Our work has taken us to South Africa, Latin America, Alaska, and of course most recently to the front lines of the Deepwater Horizon spill in the Gulf of Mexico.

Even as many of our most experienced rescue workers toiled in the Gulf, seabirds and other aquatic birds continued to pour in to one of our two West Coast rescue facilities. We treated more than 2,800 pelicans, grebes, herons, geese, ducks and other species at our Northern and Southern California facilities between April and October.

BP paid the costs of our Gulf rescue work, but our day-to-day operations depend on donations from people like you.

And, for the next six days, your donations will be matched dollar for dollar, up to a total of $5000. Please give generously today.

Our centers and rescue teams are available 24/7 every day of the year. And it is rare for a day to go by without new arrivals requiring urgent medical care.

You can be assured that your life-saving donation to IBRRC will go far. Much of our work is handled by volunteers who give countless hours of time and love to the birds we treat. Your gift will cover medical supplies, food for recovering birds, and the other necessities of maintaining two state-of-the-art avian ERs.

Just like the boy in the story, our work has mattered -- to thousands of birds that survived the trauma of oil slicks, fishhook injuries, and mass outbreaks of illness with a little help from people who care.

Thank you for your past concern and thank you in advance for your generous support during this holiday season.

Sincerely,

Jay Holcomb, Executive Director
International Bird Rescue Research Center (IBRRC)

P. S. A recovering pelican eats 5 pounds of fish a day. Your donation will help ensure that the birds in our care stand the best possible chance to thrive in the wild once they are released.

Year end update: Just two words: Thank you.

2010-11-24T09:49:00.000-08:00

Dear Friend,

As I reflect on our accomplishments in the past year, I want to thank you for making this work possible through your continued support and encouragement.

Supporters like you are vital to keeping our rescue centers up and running – so that we can continue to save birds from all types of crises, maintain our ongoing research and training, and remain prepared to deploy at a moment’s notice in response to a massive emergency like the Deepwater Horizon oil spill in the Gulf.

During the months many of us were in the Gulf, supporters like you made it possible for us to continue all the other rescue work we do around the clock, every day – and there was plenty of it. Below are just some of the numbers that paint the picture of our ongoing work made possible through your support:

365 — days each year we are caring for oiled and injured birds at our two rescue centers in California.

5406 — total number of birds treated at our rescue centers so far in 2010. The five most common species treated were: Mallards, Brown Pelicans, Black-Crowned Night Herons, Western Grebes, and Canada Geese.

2839 — number of Pacific birds admitted and treated at our two rescue centers in California between April 20 and September 30, during the height of the Gulf spill.

4 — number of smaller West Coast oil spills IBRRC responded to in 2010.

5 - the number of oiled birds received in the last week from natural seep along the California coast.

600 —number of critically ill pelicans treated by us following the heavy rains, flooding and pollution from run-off that hit the California coast in January 2010.

5 — pounds of fish consumed by a recovering pelican every day.

25,000+ — hours logged by IBRRC volunteers in 2010.

39 — number of years IBRRC has been rescuing and saving injured seabirds from crises. (That’s right, 2011 is our 40th anniversary!)*

24/7 — hours and days a week IBRRC is on-call for wildlife emergencies.

Again, I can’t thank you enough for helping to make this work possible. We truly could not do it without you.

Sincerely,

Jay Holcomb, Executive Director
International Bird Rescue Research Center (IBRRC)

*P. S. We look forward to keeping you updated on our plans to celebrate IBRRC’s 40th anniversary in the spring of 2011.

Boogaloo for birds Dec 4th in Hermosa Beach

2010-11-24T06:08:00.000-08:00

Join us on Saturday, December 4 from 3 to 8 p.m. at Café Boogaloo, in Southern California for a party to benefit International Bird Rescue Research Center (IBRRC) in San Pedro. The center rehabs injured wildlife, often pelicans and gulls from this area, and responds to international ecological crises like the Gulf of Mexico oil spill.

$10 entry will deal you into our bar-wide game of Go Fish to meet new people and compete for a prize! Catch some football as you enjoy one of our specialty cocktails then take a break to bid in our silent auction of gifts generously donated by local businesses. If alcohol, games (to watch and to play), and shopping isn't enough to motivate you to come by, check out www.ibrrc.org to see what great work your partying will support!

Cafe Boogaloo

1238 Hermosa Avenue

Hermosa Beach, CA 90254-3529

http://www.facebook.com/ibrrc#!/pages/Cafe-Boogaloo/116119835078335

Public's help still needed to locate injured gulls

2010-11-19T10:12:00.000-08:00

The public is being urged by rescuers to keep an eye out for the remaining beer-can-collared gulls in the San Francisco Bay Area.

Recent sightings of the adult and juvenile Western gulls have come in from Bolinas Lagoon to San Francisco's Fishermen's Wharf to SF State University out near Lake Merced. The bird (top, right) is a second year juvenile Western Gull photographed on November 17th at San Francisco State University in the southwestern area of the city.

Like most wild birds, they are understandably wary of approach. If you see one of these birds please send or call in details - Time, Date, location, and a pic if possible - phoning (831) 429-2323 and/or emailing rescue@wildrescue.org. Two organizations are collaborating on this effort, International Bird Rescue (Fairfield) and WildRescue (Monterey).

The reward has been raised to $6,100 for the arrest and conviction of the person(s) who collared the gulls.

Earlier this week a team from WildRescue successfully captured one gull at Lake Merced and removed the beer can from it's neck. Video of the gull rescue is on YouTube

See more information here: http://wildrescues.blogspot.com/

Reward raised to $6,100 for info on collared gulls

2010-11-17T13:58:00.000-08:00

As the search continues for other beer can collared birds in the San Francisco Bay Area, the reward has been raised to $6,100 for the arrest and conviction of the person(s) who collared the gulls.

Thanks to a generous $5,000 pledge from the California Beer and Beverage Distributors (CBBD), the reward will help to focus more attention in stopping the prankster (s) from collaring anymore birds. The CBBD is a nonprofit representing 100 beer distributors and brewer/vendor members in California.

Earlier this week one of the gulls was captured by a team from WildRescue and the beer can removed from its neck. It was caught at Lake Merced in San Francisco. See video below

Gulf Oil Spill talk in Monterey December 4th

2010-11-17T07:19:00.000-08:00

After spending nearly 5 months along the Gulf Coast, lead wildlife rescuers will give an eye opening account of their experiences on Saturday afternoon, December 4th in Monterey, CA.

Jay Holcomb of International Bird Rescue (San Francisco), world leader in oiled wildlife recovery and aquatic bird care, will join WildRescue (Monterey) directors Rebecca Dmytryk and Duane Titus in recounting their experiences. Anecdotes and never‐seen video clips and pictures will offer a firsthand look at what it was like to be on the frontlines of the largest oil spill disaster in U.S. history.

The program will be presented at Monterey Peninsula College ‐ Lecture Hall 103, 980 Fremont St., Monterey, CA. It starts at 3 PM and will until 4:30 PM. Download the flyer

Tickets are $15; $20 at the door.

Buy online now:

http://wildrescue.bigcartel.com/product/gulf-oil-spill-presentation-at-mpc

The talk benefits WildRescue, a Moss Landing CA based wildlife rescue group.