Mission Statement:

Our mission is the rescue, rehabilitation, and hopeful release of sick, injured, and orphaned native wild birds, and spreading conservation awareness through education and community engagement.

The Seaside Seabird Sanctuary is a 501(c)(3) non-profit organization located in Indian Shores. The heart of our operations is the Dr. Marie L. Farr Avian Hospital, where our small team of staff and volunteers care for approximately 3,500 birds every year. We are also home to over 80 permanently injured resident birds, and we collaborate with multiple organizations to find permanent homes for birds who are unable to be released and are able to have a good quality of life in captivity. Our Sanctuary is open to visitors 365 days a year, and admission is free to ensure everyone in our community has the opportunity to learn about our amazing local wildlife. We have an active presence in our community through local partnerships, and our team of volunteers and "Avian Ambassadors" attend schools, events, and functions throughout the Tampa Bay area in addition to hosting events on-site. We are currently working to renovate and improve our enclosures to ensure the highest quality of care for both our patients and resident birds, and develop new projects and collaborations that highlight the habitat that our local wildlife depend on. As an organization that relies solely on donations and community grants, we hope you'll consider supporting our mission so that we can continue this important work.

Seaside Seabird Sanctuary 2017 Grand Opening.

Seaside's History

Seaside Seabird Sanctuary, LLC was founded on July 13th, 2016 as a non-profit organization dedicated to rescuing, rehabilitating, and releasing sick or injured wild birds. On September 1st, 2016, Seaside opened up their facility located in Indian Shores, Florida. Seaside was granted its 501(c)(3) non-profit status three months later on December 15th, 2016. On March 30th, 2017, the Seaside Seabird Sanctuary held its official grand opening.

Dr. Marie L. Farr Avian Hospital

Named after the incredible woman who originally funded its construction in 2003, the Dr. Marie L. Farr Avian Hospital is the most important facility located on the Sanctuary property. Inside a team of dedicated and experienced staff and volunteer members diagnose and treat 3,000 - 3,500 sick and injured birds that are admitted to the hospital each year. Similar to a veterinary hospital, the Dr. Marie L. Farr Avian Hospital is equipped with emergency facilities, diagnostics, and injury recovery areas.

A Seaside Seabird Sanctuary rescue team volunteer rescuing a sick eastern brown pelican.

Bird Rescue

On average, the Seaside Seabird Sanctuary's Injured Bird Rescue Hotline receives 10,800 calls every year. Our dedicated Rescue Team Volunteers conduct over 3,600 rescues each year.

The Seaside Seabird Sanctuary's Avian Hospital Director treating a sick great blue heron.

Treatment & Rehabilitation

Out of the 3,000 - 3,500 sick and injured wild birds that are admitted into the Sanctuary's hospital each year, with an over 65% success rate after the first 24 hours.

Release

The end goal of what Seaside does is to be able to release birds back into the wild that they have successfully rehabilitated. Each year, on average, Seaside releases 1,347 rehabilitated wild birds back into the wild.

Educating the Community

A huge part of Seaside's mission is to educate the community and bring awareness to the importance of birds in our ecosystem, what dangers they face due to man, and how to reduce their dangers. Seaside staff routinely visits schools and other institutions to help educate the community on such issues. We also have an aquatic Eco-Discovery Center which highlights the natural areas that Florida's birds depend on.

Mangrove Habitat Restoration

We strive to protect our local wildlife beyond our hospital, and thanks to a grant from the Tampa Bay Estuary Program we have now started our Mangrove Restoration Project. Our staff are propagating mangrove propagules found on the beach behind the Sanctuary, and we will be transplanting these new plants into areas that have been depleted.