Nothing like a bird release to lift the spirits

A Surf Scoter flies free at the Oakland Port Wednesday. Photos by Cheryl Reynolds Twenty more birds cleaned of the East Bay mystery goo were released Wednesday morning at the Oakland Port. “There’s nothing like a bird release to lift the spirits,” said Russ Curtis, spokesperson for International Bird Rescue. “Our reward is seeing these … Read more

Release! A Brown Booby takes flight from Southern California

Photo by Kelly Berry Release snapshot: A wayward Brown Booby — found injured in Alaska, nearly 3,000 miles from its range — is released in Southern California on December 22. Many thanks to our friends at the Alaska Raptor Center and Alaska Airlines for assisting in the care and transport of this remarkable bird.

Released! White-faced Ibis

Photos by Cheryl Reynolds The White-faced Ibis who graced our online birdcam has been released! As you may remember, this juvenile bird was found near Natomas, CA with a broken wing and brought to an animal shelter on July 27 before transfer to our San Francisco Bay center. Diagnosis: a fractured radius and ulna. Our … Read more

Wading birds find a new home in the Ballona Wetlands

Our colleagues at Friends of Ballona Creek recently profiled some of our patients at International Bird Rescue’s Los Angeles center and their triumphant release at Ballona Freshwater Marsh, a critical ecosystem of the Los Angeles basin. Via Mychel Bradley: July has definitely been a month of independence for the beautiful birds of Ballona Wetlands. Over … Read more

Release! Pink the Pelican

L.A. City Councilman Joe Buscaino releases Pink. Photos and video by Bill Steinkamp and Kira Perov (volume adjustment on lower right of video control panel) Pink, a California Brown Pelican and now arguably one of the most famous patients in International Bird Rescue history, was successfully released on Tuesday afternoon at White Point Park in … Read more

Release! Rhinoceros Auklets, Glaucous-winged Gull and a Common Murre

Rhinoceros Auklet in breeding plumage, photo by Cheryl Reynolds Residents of the North Pacific, Rhinoceros Auklets are also known as “Unicorn Puffins” for the small horn extension on their beaks, present in both males and females during breeding season. We’ve had two of these birds in care at our San Francisco Bay center for several … Read more

Release! Brown Booby

Photos and video by Bill Steinkamp It’s been a long, strange trip for this wayward Brown Booby. But we’re pleased to report there’s a happy ending. To bring you up to speed: In December, we received this female Brown Booby at our San Francisco Bay center from our friends at WildCare, which in turn had … Read more