Intern To Learn: Bird Rescue’s Aquatic Bird Rehabilitation Internship Program
International Bird Rescue’s Wildlife Internship Program immerses participants in the day-to-day work of an aquatic bird hospital. Interns learn directly from our rehabilitation staff and experienced volunteers, with a focus on individual animal care, husbandry, clinical exams, and hands-on medical skills appropriate to their level of experience. International Bird Rescue responds to wildlife emergencies such as oil spills, disease outbreaks, or mass mortality events and interns may be involved in learning during real life high pressure crises, gaining a realistic view of the demands of wildlife rehabilitation.
Interns typically start by learning key husbandry skills, cleaning, feeding, and daily care routines, from our experienced volunteers. Each hospital is also staffed daily with at least two experienced Rehabilitation Technicians who oversee case management and guide interns through medical and clinical work as they build experience. Interns may have the opportunity to interact with our staff veterinarian on medical cases, schedules permitting, is a rehabilitation internship, not a veterinary internship.
Most common aquatic bird patients include: herons, egrets, waterfowl, shorebirds, loons, grebes, murres, gulls, pelicans, cormorants, and the occasional tubenose, with each center rehabbing over 1000+ birds each year.
The Los Angeles facility is located on a scenic bluff overlooking the ocean in San Pedro, CA. This center has a consistent influx of animals year round, with the busiest seasons often occurring in winter and spring due to migratory bird patterns and natural oil seep. The San Francisco Bay-Delta facility is located in Fairfield, CA, approximately one hour northeast of San Francisco, on the edge of Suisun Marsh, one of the largest wetland ecosystems in the United States. Spring and summer are the busiest seasons due to large influxes of baby birds.
Intern activities, benefits, and learning opportunities
Interns work full time, 40 hours per week over four 10-hour days, and are compensated at legally required minimum wage for their work location, paid biweekly, in recognition of the intensive, full-time nature of this training program.
What you’ll learn:
Over the course of the internship, you’ll be exposed to every stage of aquatic bird rehabilitation, from foundational husbandry through intermediate-level clinical skills. What you focus on and how quickly you progress depends on caseload, season, and your own pace; wildlife rehabilitation doesn’t run on a fixed schedule, and that unpredictability is part of the learning. Training areas include:
- Handling and restraint techniques specific to aquatic and pelagic species
- Herd health management and biosecurity protocols
- Intensive and critical care: tube feeding, fluid therapy, blood draws, physical, exams
- Oiled wildlife rehabilitation (primarily winter)
- Orphan and neonate rearing (May through July)
- Individual case management: fractures, fishing hook and line injuries, road strikes, predator attacks, etc.)
- Release-readiness assessment and participation in releases back to the wild
- Understanding of species specific dietary/caging/aviary needs
- Facilities support/pool maintenance
- Support work including cleaning, laundry, dishes, and handling fish to feed patients
- Participate in wildlife training sessions
- Potential to join emergency wildlife response team
- Opportunities to network with spill response and rehabilitation professionals, veterinarians, and researchers
Equal Opportunity Internship Program
International Bird Rescue is committed to building a team that reflects the diversity of the communities and ecosystems we serve. We welcome applicants from all backgrounds, identities, and life experiences, and we actively encourage people from groups that have been historically underrepresented in wildlife science and conservation to apply. IBR does not discriminate on the basis of race, color, national origin, ancestry, religion, sex, gender identity or expression, sexual orientation, age, disability, marital status, veteran status, or any other characteristic protected under California or federal law in its internship selection process.
Housing/transportation
Bird Rescue does not provide housing or transportation accommodation for interns.
You must have your own vehicle to get to and from the center or can use alternate transportation that can reliably be used to arrive at the center by 8AM. Interns are encouraged to reside locally and arrange for their own housing. We suggest using Airbnb, subletting an apartment, renting a room, or staying with a friend or relative nearby. Make sure to consider the commute between your living quarters and the center when researching places to stay.
Internship Parameters
Requirements:
- Age 18 or older with a valid form of ID.
- Currently enrolled in or a recent graduate (within the past year) of a program in wildlife biology, ecology, veterinary science, animal science, or a related field, OR demonstrated equivalent commitment through prior wildlife rehabilitation or animal care volunteer experience.
- We recognize that pathways into wildlife rehabilitation are not one-size-fits-all. We welcome applicants from community colleges, non-traditional academic programs, and those who have built their experience through hands-on work rather than formal coursework. What matters most is your commitment, your work ethic, and your genuine interest in the animals and the mission.
- Must have a reliable means of transportation to and from LA or SF wildlife centers.
- Time commitment: 12 weeks at 4 days per week from 8:00AM – 6:30PM (10-hour shifts with a 30-minute unpaid lunch). Scheduled shifts may include weekends and holidays, since animal care doesn’t pause for either.
- During emergency responses or other extended work periods, additional hours may be compensated in accordance with applicable overtime requirements.
- Previous experience handling birds is helpful, but not a prerequisite.
- Maturity and professionalism with the staff, public, volunteers, and animals.
- Ability to work effectively both independently and as part of a team as your skills develop.
- Enthusiasm for wildlife rehabilitation and learning.
- Must follow all workplace safety guidelines.
- Follow directions well and carry out assigned responsibilities efficiently and effectively in a high stress and busy environment.
- Must be able to move and transport animals, equipment, and supplies weighing up to 50 pounds.
- Must be able to work in challenging and changing environments indoors, outdoors, and in field situations, such as uneven surfaces, wet and slippery surfaces, and various weather conditions.
- This position requires ascending/descending ladders and stairs (sometimes while carrying supplies, equipment, and animals) and positioning oneself into tight spaces, low areas, or on the ground to perform animal care and husbandry, and routine facility maintenance.
Any season may present unpredictable emergencies, such as oil spills or disease outbreaks. Interns are expected to participate in the on-site response to such emergencies and may be asked to stay late or respond off-site if necessary, at Bird Rescue’s expense.
Internship Timetable/Application Deadlines
There are four Internship positions per wildlife hospital (LA or SF) available each year. We require a 12-week commitment during the timeframes listed below.
Los Angeles Wildlife Center
- Winter/Spring- 2 available positions: January through May
- Application deadline November 30th
- Spring/Summer- 2 available positions: May through August
- Application deadline February 1st
San Francisco Wildlife Center
- Spring/Summer- 4 available positions: May through September
- Application deadline February 1st
How to apply
To apply for an internship, please submit your application using the online form by the posted application deadline.
Application requirements:
- A letter of interest describing your background and relevant experience, your career goals and how this internship fits into them, why you’re interested in interning with Bird Rescue specifically, and any other details we should know.
- A resume or curriculum vitae
Application Process: After reviewing your application, you will be notified if you have been selected for an interview. Once all interviews for the cycle are complete, you will be notified if you are selected for the internship program.
For questions or comments, contact us at internships@birdrescue.org