I want to share the story of my visit to the International Bird Rescue Research Center (IBRRC), in  San Pedro, CA. You’re probably thinking, “Where the heck is San Pedro?” Here is a map of the trip I took, from Las Vegas to the California coast, and back again: I first learned about IBRRC in August, 2008. I care deeply about helping wild animals heal from harm they have suffered at the hands of humans. I actively sought out an organization to support, and was thrilled to find IBRRC. They began as a group of volunteers dedicated to helping birds and other wildlife survive the oiling that occurred from the San Franciso bay oil spill in 1971. They have since grown to include three locations along the Pacific coast, with rehab centers in Alaska, and northern and southern California. The IBRRC mission statement is:

“The International Bird Rescue Research Center (IBRRC) has been helping birds around the world since 1971. Its mission is to mitigate human impact on aquatic birds and other wildlife. This is achieved through rehabilitation, emergency response, education, research, planning and training.”

IBRRC rescues and rehabilitates animals who have suffered from oil spills, abandoned fishing debris, and other man-made perils of the sea. Sadly, it is suspected that sometimes humans harm pelicans intentionally, due to an erroneous perception that pelicans threaten the fishing industry.

When I arrived at IBRRC’s San Pedro location, I was greeted by long-time volunteer, Terry Wall. She took me to the visitor’s center, and told me about her role in helping the birds. I was very impressed with the visitor’s center:

Each television monitor displays live views of the numerous rehab tanks. This is a great way to allow visitors to see and appreciate the great work that IBRRC does, without unduly disturbing the sick and injured birds.

As visitors look at the many displays featuring birds that the center has helped, they can also see a whiteboard listing the birds who are currently receiving treatment:

The visitor’s center sells gifts and IBRRC t-shirts, etc., to supplement the funds available to meet the high costs of veterinary care, food, and shelter for their avian charges.

Next, Terry took me behind the scenes at IBRRC. The first area we visited was the large intake room where the IBRRC staff handles incoming birds. Terry told me that they have had this room completely filled, with more birds staged outside the back door. In the next photo, you can see the “washing” room (far left) where members of the IBRRC staff were helping a Common Loon.

Out of respect for the loon and its distressed state, we did not get close or linger.

At the opposite end of this room, IBRRC maintains two veterinary stations used to examine the recovering birds and administer medicine as needed. The costs for such a high level of care are significant.

Part of the routine at IBRRC is to place a band on the legs of the birds they treat. Bird banding is a federal program, jointly administered by the US Department of the Interior, and the Canadian Wildlife Service. These bands have unique numbers that identify the bird, and help fill in the mystery of their movements when (if) the bird is  found again. It is the hope of the federal banding program that the information acquired will help scientists learn more about the lives and movements of birds, so that they can make this information available to land managers.

Once the birds have been banded, treated, and are well enough to recuperate in the outdoor aviaries, they are moved to one of several enclosed tanks:

The equipment dotted around the grounds is impressive, and the aviaries are a testament to the fine quality of care that birds and other wildlife receive at IBRRC. The staff has a policy to never tame their avian charges, so they will remain wary of humans. The best case scenario for all of the birds that come through IBRRC is to be released back out into the wild. Meanwhile, they convalesce in pretty nice digs:

This is the view down the length of just one of the pelican aviaries – that black haze in the photo is the netting.

Being this close to the pelicans, I was able to note the extremely cool way that they can tuck their heads to sleep, while still appearing to be resting with eyes wide open. See what I mean?

Now THIS is what I call having eyes in the back of your head!

The California Brown Pelican, a subspecies of Pelecanus occidentalis, has very recently been removed from California’s endangered species list. While this would appear to signify good news for the pelicans, IBRRC is opposed to delisting the pelicans at this time.

My visit to IBRRC was well worth the five-hour drive each way. I was also able to squeeze in a few hours on the nearby shore, which was an amazing experience all by itself. I was delighted to see brown pelicans on the rocky outcroppings extending out into the Pacific Ocean. The beach I visited was one of the beaches where IBRRC releases rehabilitated birds. Maybe one of the pelicans I saw was enjoying his day, thanks to the good work of the IBRRC.

In closing, I would like to remind everyone of the Birder’s Lounge Do Something! Campaign, which raises funds (out of MY pocket) from YOUR good deeds! C’mon, be a do-gooder!

Leave a Reply