It’s that time of year again! In a year marked by crises, a few stories of second chances stand out. Each year, International Bird Rescue highlights some of the most incredible stories of survival and resilience from the birds brought into care, and now YOU get to help decide which one will be crowned the 2025 Patient of the Year. Your vote helps shine a spotlight on these survivors and the lifesaving work that made their second chances possible. Submissions close December 31st.
This year, we provided care to 3,047 patients, while also responding to a domoic acid event affecting nearly 100 seabirds, a young pelican starvation crisis affecting hundreds of fledgelings across California, and an influx of over 120 oiled Western Grebes. From dramatic rescues to inspiring recoveries, these remarkable patients remind us why wildlife care matters.
Read their stories, celebrate their triumphs, and cast your vote to honor the bird whose journey touched your heart most. Everyone who participates will be entered to win a beautiful 2026 Bird Rescue calendar.
Common Murre – A Christmas
Murre-icle!
An oiled Common Murre saved on Christmas Day, 2024, started the new year on a hopeful note. Found with a heavily oiled abdomen at Pillar Point Harbor in Half Moon Bay, CA, the murre was rescued and brought to Bird Rescue, where it was stabilized with fluids and heat before undergoing a wash by our skilled staff. By January, it was healthy enough to be released back into the wild, joining another previously oiled murre. Swift rescue and expert care made this hopeful recovery possible.
Bufflehead – From Fairway to Flyway
In February, a female Bufflehead crash-landed onto a golf course near Coronado, CA, and needed time to heal in care. During her stay, she captured hearts on our live birdcam alongside her rehab roommate, a Ruddy Duck who had collided with a glass door. After a month of attentive care and recovery, the Bufflehead was strong enough to be released back into the wild, bringing her journey full circle.
Double-crested Cormorants – The Ultimate Chick Challenge
More than 60 Double-crested Cormorant eggs and chicks were rescued from a falling tree in Marina del Rey, CA, in March. They were safely removed by a wildlife biologist and brought into care. For three months, the young birds received intensive support as they learned to self-feed and practiced diving for food. To help the chicks retain their wild instincts, staff wore cloaks and masks and used feeding puppets while playing colony sounds to mimic life in a natural environment, helping these future fliers grow strong and ready for life in the wild.
Black-necked Stilts – Rising Up
When a nest was discovered in a flood-prone area in Alviso at Don Edwards National Wildlife Refuge, wildlife officials safely removed it after confirming the parents were no longer incubating. 20 eggs were brought to Bird Rescue, where our team carefully incubated them until they hatched. The chicks grew up alongside Western Snowy Plover and American Avocet chicks until they were ready for independence in the wild.
Western Gull – 21 and Still Soaring
A 21-year-old Western Gull was admitted to care after being shot down, suffering a fractured keel and pubic bone, on August 3 in Wilmington, CA. Staff were able to find out her age thanks to the federal band on her leg, which revealed that she was banded as a chick in 2004 near Santa Catalina Island. With time, expert care, and her own resilience, this long-lived survivor made a remarkable recovery.