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On
March 21, 2001, the second of
two new California oiled wildlife
centers opened. Located in San
Pedro, the center is operated
by IBRRC and overseen by the Oiled
Wildlife Care Network (OWCN).
Adopt a bird
The Los Angeles Oiled
Bird Care and Education Center,
is a 10,000 square foot facility
designed to house up to 1,000 birds
at a time. It also houses the Southern
California chapter of IBRRC's local
education program and our ongoing
aquatic bird rehabilitation program. Found a bird?
In cooperation with
the Los Angeles Unified School District,
two large classrooms with laboratory
and computer capabilities have been
incorporated into the facility.
An estimated 40,000 schoolchildren
are expected to visit the facility
annually.
Included in the center:
• Two large outdoor
aviaries with pools for pelicans.
One is nearly 100 feet long and is big
enough for pelicans to fly from
perch to perch.
• A bird hospital
area with two-way communication
system so schoolchildren and other
visitors can see and talk to rehabilitators
as they care for injured birds.
• Video cameras
and monitors connected to outdoor
aviaries to allow the public to
view animals in care.
Background
Oiled birds have their
best chance at survival if they
are cared for by well-trained
staff in a properly designed and
equipped veterinary facility.
This new $2.5 million facility
will offer that quality of care
for up to 1,000 aquatic birds
affected by an oil spill in the
Los Angeles area. First
test: Ventura
2005 spill
The new Los Angeles
center is the fifth and final major
link in the state's Oiled Wildlife
Care Network (OWCN),
the world's most advanced rescue
system for oiled wildlife. The OWCN
is a model for rescue programs in
other countries. It is managed by
the UC Davis Wildlife Health Center
and funded by the California Department
of Fish and Game Office of Spill
Prevention and Response.
The bird center is operates
365 days a year from 8 AM to 5 PM.
Because wild birds are scared easily,
the general public isn't allowed
to wander through the rehabilitation
center. There is a public education
area where you can watch TV monitors
of the outside bird pools and purchase
IBRRC t-shirts and other gifts.
It's generally open on Tuesday and
Thursdays from 1 PM to 4 PM. Please
call (310) 514-2573 for more information.
IBRRC teams up with other wildlife rescue organizations. We'd like to acknowledge Rebecca Dmytryk of WildRescue and Peter Wallerstein of the Friends of Animals (formerly The Whale Rescue Team) in Southern California for their efforts and support of our mission.
In 2007 WildRescue started a phone hotline that connects you to wildlife rescue organizations near you: (866) WILD-911. When you find a wild animal in distress, please call this number to direct you the proper wildlife professional. Note: This is for the the Southern California area only. |
