News
Uptick in Starving Common Murres Raises Concern
Common Murres were among the seabird species affected by a California starvation event that occurred earlier this year, and this may be occurring again.
September 10, 2026
Blue-Banded Pelicans
Brown Pelican N33’s Decade of Resilience
Brown Pelican N33 was spotted thriving on July 10, over one year after her most recent rehabilitation and 10 years after she first came into our care. Twice rehabilitated after two major setbacks, N33’s re-sighting has become one of our most important success stories.
August 28, 2026
Interns
Where Are They Now? Helena Echenique
Like many former interns, Helena Echenique’s time at Bird Rescue helped shape a lasting career in animal care. Today, Helena serves as the Ambassador Animal Programs Coordinator at the Oakland Zoo, where she combines her love of animal care and conservation education by working with permanent resident ambassador animals that inspire people to protect wildlife.
August 7, 2026
Success Stories
Saving a Generation: The Long Beach Harbor Nesting Seabird Crisis
As International Bird Rescue celebrates 55 years of protecting birds in a changing world, Saving a Generation: The Long Beach Harbor Seabird Nesting Crisis looks back on one of the organization’s defining conservation efforts.
July 30, 2026
Photographers in Focus
Photographers in Focus: Rick Lewis
Our newest featured photographer is Rick Lewis from Alameda, CA. Several of his Elegant Tern photographs have been featured throughout International Bird Rescue’s 55th anniversary campaign, celebrating the species chosen as our anniversary bird.
July 10, 2026
Success Stories
A Boy, a Pelican, a Rescue, and a Release
Four weeks after helping save a Brown Pelican entangled in fishing gear, 13-year-old Leo Batres Montoya reunited with and released the healthy bird back to the ocean.
June 19, 2026
Human-Wildlife Conflicts
Shorebirds Navigate Nesting Challenges Across Habitats
This season, International Bird Rescue has cared for shorebirds from a range of habitats and circumstances. Together, their stories offer a glimpse into the challenges these birds face during the nesting season and the efforts that help support them along the way.
June 12, 2026
Patient of the Week
A Second Chance for an Endangered California Least Tern
A California Least Tern, an endangered species, was admitted to International Bird Rescue after being found at Bolsa Chica Ecological Reserve in Huntington Beach unable to take flight.
June 8, 2026
News
When Everything Happens at Once
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.
May 29, 2026
Human-Wildlife Conflicts
Urban Communities United to Help Injured Herons
Herons’ striking appearance make them hard to miss, and when one of these birds is in trouble, communities often step in. These three rescue stories highlight how people came together to help herons in need.
May 1, 2026
Staff Spotlight
Staff Highlight: Welcome, Danene Birtell, Preparedness Manager
Danene Birtell’s path into wildlife rescue began unexpectedly on a South African shoreline during a devastating oil spill, where a formative first response sparked a lifelong career in oiled wildlife rehabilitation. Now, more than two decades later, she returns to International Bird Rescue as Preparedness Manager.
April 30, 2026
Conservation
Introducing Our New Tagline: For Birds in a Changing World
In order to face ongoing threats, Bird Rescue has evolved into a global conservation organization. To better describe this change, we adopt the tagline that has grown quietly alongside our work: For Birds in a Changing World.
April 17, 2026
Clinic Files
Hungry for Survival: Seabird Stories From the California Coast
Shifting ocean conditions make it harder to find food, and weakened birds often end up in dangerous situations, tangled in fishing line or far from the coast.
April 3, 2026
Brown Pelicans
Growing Challenges for California Brown Pelicans in an Unpredictable Ocean
In some years, changes in ocean conditions ripple quickly through the California Brown Pelican population, sending waves of weakened birds to wildlife rehabilitation centers along the coast. The exact cause of these influxes is not yet clear, but it reflects a larger story about birds in a changing world.
March 20, 2026
Oil Spill Response
Oiled Bird Rescue Animated Reenactment
During the Ventura oil incident in November 2025, responders Dan Vega and Alex Carver faced an unusual challenge. An oiled grebe was surrounded by sea lions, making a typical capture impossible. Watch the animated reenactment to see how it all happened.
March 9, 2026
Merchandise
Soaring Style: Wear What Matters
Each week of March, Bird Rescue will spotlight a featured collection of merch created to celebrate the beauty, resilience, and spirit of birds.
March 2, 2026
Look Up
Look Up and Make a Difference: Join the California Bird Atlas Effort
Bird Rescue is proud to partner with the California Bird Atlas to support the state’s first comprehensive statewide Breeding Bird Atlas.
February 26, 2026
Bird of the Year
Why the Elegant Tern Is Our 55th Anniversary Bird
As we mark 55 years of taking action for birds in a changing world, we are proud to name the Elegant Tern as our anniversary bird.
February 20, 2026