Tri-State Bird Rescue and Research

FY 2023 Bird Preservation & Protection Programs: BIRD CARE The clinic admitted 3920 birds between these dates. Over 120 different neotropical species which included over 1,800 individuals. The clinic admitted 177 different species during this time period. Some of the specialty birds that the clinic admitted were: 99 bald eagles, 10 peregrine falcons, 15 ruby-throated hummingbirds, 58 chimney swifts, 50 great blue heron, 47 great horned owls, 44 wood ducks, and 19 common loons. The number one species represented in the clinic was the American robin making up 26.1% of our caseload (286 individuals). The clinic released over 1017 individuals during the above time period with a survival rate after the first 24 hours of 71.69%. Out of those released over 293 orphans were reunited with their parents or placed in a foster family (non-biological). This includes raptors, song birds, waterfowl and wading birds. Some of the causes of injury that the clinic sees are: attack by cat (206 individuals), hit by vehicle (376 individuals), and displaced from nest (449 individuals). The summer is the busiest time of year and less than 30% of the caseload is adult birds. During the summer the clinic admitted 3,121 birds and at its height admitted 80 birds in one day. Tri-State admitted 129 transfer cases from other centers from New York to Maryland. Cases are transferred to Tri-State from other centers because they need specialized care, knowledge, caging or medical treatment. The three most prevalent states that bring us admissions are Delaware 48.6% (1907 individuals), Pennsylvania at 24.5% (959 individuals) and Maryland at 21.7% (852 individuals).

FY 2023 VOLUNTEER SERVICES AND EDUCATION SERVICES This program includes training and materials for volunteers, in addition to educational workshops for the public. The Tri-State team invests a lot of training into their volunteers to prepare them for their service in the field of wildlife rehabilitation. In FY 2023, Tri-State brought on 35 new volunteers that completed a new volunteer orientation in addition to role specific hands-on training. During the summer, 14 interns trained with our clinic team and served a combined total of 3,363 hours of volunteer service. The fourteen interns represented seven different colleges/universities. In addition to supporting our clinic team, interns attended weekly lectures, trainings, and workshops to further their knowledge and skills. Tri-State also hosted a Student Project Intern who worked with clinic staff to help complete a Capstone Project needed to graduate high school. A new internship program was also designed this year for a year-long internship, designed to give the candidate training and experience in the field to help obtain a position in the field after their completion. In December 2022, our team hosted an advanced training workshop for best practices in retrieving and transporting injured wild birds. There were 26 participants registered, all from different conservation based organizations from Delaware, Pennsylvania, Maryland, and New Jersey. It is also part of Tri-State's mission to promote stewardship of wild birds and wildlife through public education. This is accomplished with educational workshops and outreach programs for local and neighboring communities. Education is an important component of Tri-State's mission. It is achieved by providing information for the public as well as through colleague outreach, and intern and volunteer programs. In FY 2023, our team reached over 7,800 members of the surrounding community by participating in outreach events and festivals. During this same time, our team also reached 574 students through classroom programs and presentations. Tri-State supported improved excellence in wildlife care by training other wildlife professionals and oil spill contingency personnel. Tri-State hosted the largest wildlife rehabilitation conference in the United States and had a total of 8 presentations, one published poster and 1 all day workshop. Tri-State staff and volunteers presented topics at local, regional and international conferences. Throughout the year, Tri-State helped to educate the public by answering thousands of telephone inquiries and conducting outreach programs. In addition, an annual open house is held each Spring attracting hundreds of visitors to the campus in Newark, DE.

FY 2023 Bird Preservation & Protection Programs: OIL SPILL RESPONSE & CONTINGENCY PLAN Tri-State Bird Rescue & Research Oil Spill Programs staff is dedicated to effective oil spill planning, preparedness and response. The Oil Spill Response Team maintains availability 24/7 and has been able to respond to incidents continually during FY 23. The Tri-State team was called out for six responses as well as for assessments to survey spill sites for potentially oiled wildlife in three different states. Oiled wildlife responses involved capture, stabilization, wash, and release of affected native wild birds, mammals, reptiles and amphibians. The Oil Team has presented at and attended meetings and conferences such as the Sector Delaware Bay Area Committee Meetings, Sector Maryland National Capital Region Area Committee Meetings, meetings for Regional Response Teams 1,2,3,4,5,6,7 and the Caribbean Regional Response Team, the Effects of Oil on Wildlife Conference, National Wildlife Rehabilitators Association Symposium, and the Global Oiled Wildlife Responders group. The Oil Team participated in a full-scale oil spill exercise for U.S. Coast Guard Sector Michigan and in several drills conducted by oil industry partners. The Oil Team also taught workshops and gave presentations to members of the oil industry, Department of Interior, the United States Fish and Wildlife Service, the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration, the United States Coast Guard, state wildlife trustee agencies, and animal care colleagues.