Right now, the teams at International Bird Rescue’s two California wildlife centers are responding to an extraordinary set of challenges: seabirds struggling during a prolonged starvation event, the annual spring influx of baby birds, and an active oil spill response in Los Angeles.
Each situation requires its own specialized approach. Bird Rescue’s staff are trained to respond across all of these areas, allowing teams to shift where they are needed most as conditions change. With more than 55 years of experience responding to complex wildlife emergencies, Bird Rescue has managed overlapping incidents before.
“Crises do not wait for a convenient moment,” said JD Bergeron, Bird Rescue CEO. “They often arrive at times when staff are already stretched and centers are full. Juggling multiple crises takes a community of partners, volunteers, and fellow organizations who share overflow, resources, and stand ready to work alongside us.”
Together, these emergencies are stretching staff, facilities, and resources across both centers, and the work is far from over.
Support the care of starving seabirds and orphaned chicks.
The Ongoing Starvation Crisis
Since March 1, more than 320 seabirds have been admitted to Bird Rescue’s two wildlife centers in California as part of an ongoing starvation event. More than half of those birds have been Brown Pelicans, alongside Common Murres and Brandt’s Cormorants.
Changing ocean conditions are at the root of this crisis. These conditions are causing fish to move to deeper waters and different locations, making it harder for birds to find adequate food. Weakened birds are ending up far from the coast and more vulnerable to hazards like fishing gear entanglements. Many arrive at our centers with serious secondary injuries on top of severe starvation.
But there is hope. When starving birds come into care soon enough, many can recover with proper nutrition, specialized care, and time to regain their strength. Some species struggle more than others, but Brown Pelicans in particular have shown remarkable resilience.
A 2023 study by Dr. Rebecca Duerr, Senior Director of Research and Veterinary Science, and colleagues tracked 1,418 Brown Pelicans rehabilitated and released with blue bands between 2009 and 2019, confirming that many go on to thrive after release. Annual survival rates averaged 83%. These results underscore the value of rehabilitation and the capacity of Brown Pelicans to recover and succeed after care.
Baby Bird Season: Spring Doesn’t Wait
Both of Bird Rescue’s California wildlife centers are also deep into baby bird season, the annual stretch when orphaned, injured, and displaced nestlings and fledglings arrive in steady numbers, often as many as 1,000 chicks or more.
Chicks vary widely in their needs based on both species and age, and some are far more dependent than others. This can include frequent feedings, careful temperature management, species-appropriate housing, and development milestones that must be met on schedule to ensure birds are fit for release.
It’s demanding work under normal circumstances. Doing it alongside a starvation recovery effort and an active oil spill response requires a level of organizational coordination that we’re proud our teams are delivering every day.
The Oil Spill: Experience Meets a New Challenge
On top of the ongoing starvation recovery work, Bird Rescue has been activated as part of the multi-agency response to an oil spill affecting approximately 17 miles of the Los Angeles River. In the early hours of May 22, a pipeline rupture near Cesar Chavez Avenue and Eastern Avenue released around 25,000 gallons of crude oil into storm drains that flow into the river system. Read KTLA’s coverage here.
Working alongside partners through the Oiled Wildlife Care Network (OWCN), Bird Rescue staff are helping mitigate impacts to wildlife, with teams deployed both in the field and at the Los Angeles Oiled Bird Care and Education Center to care for animals affected by the spill. More than 110 oiled birds and other wildlife including Mallards, Canada Geese, and Black-necked Stilts have been collected for care.
Bird Rescue has responded to oil emergencies on the LA River before including incidents in 1988 and 2011. That history matters. Our team carries institutional knowledge of this specific waterway, its wildlife, the surrounding community, and the logistical demands of urban spill response that can’t be replicated overnight. However, past experience doesn’t make emergency response easy.
Every spill comes with unique challenges. The type of oil, the extent of the affected area, and the species involved, all shape how the response unfolds. The first days of any spill are critical for understanding how patients are being affected and how to modify care protocols for the specific contaminants involved.
What It Takes to Keep Going
Sustaining this level of response is a continuous collective effort. It takes experienced staff who can adapt quickly, facilities that can flex under pressure, and partners who step in when capacity is stretched. Capacity is built on a foundation of years of ongoing investment in training and preparedness. It also takes the steady work of triage and communication that happens long before any bird arrives in care.
Supporters are the backbone who make this work possible, from donors and volunteers to community members who report birds in distress and stand behind our work in every response.
These moments reflect why Bird Rescue exists: to care for birds in a changing world, no matter how many challenges arrive at once.
How You Can Support
Across both wildlife centers, the work continues and so does the need for support. Here are a few ways to take action and support wildlife in care.
Donate
Support the ongoing care of starving seabirds and vulnerable baby birds in rehabilitation. Donations are currently being matched up to $10,000. Make your gift here.
Report Injured Birds
If you see a pelican or other waterbird that appears weak, injured, grounded, or in an unusual location, contact your local animal control agency or call Bird Rescue’s BirdHelpline at 866-SOS-BIRD (866-767-2473) for guidance.
If you encounter oiled wildlife, please report it immediately to the OWCN hotline at 1-877-UCD-OWCN (1-877-823-6926). Please do not attempt to capture or handle oiled wildlife yourself.
Volunteer
Bird Rescue’s volunteer-led BirdHelpline helps connect members of the public with advice and resources for injured and orphaned birds. Volunteers can answer calls from home, making this a unique way to directly support wildlife response efforts remotely.
At the San Francisco Bay-Delta Wildlife Center, we are also especially in need of clinic volunteers. No prior wildlife experience is required. Training is provided, and volunteers support daily clinic operations alongside experienced staff, helping keep care running smoothly for the birds in our care. Learn more at Bird Rescue Volunteer Opportunities.