Discovery Bay Wild Bird Rescue

Mission

Discovery Bay Wild Bird Rescue hopes to engage people and elevate their interest in our wild bird populations to inspire stewardship and conservation through education, rehabilitation, and the release of previously injured or orphaned native wild birds. 

(Check the media gallery below for the video, with the great-horned owls pictured, to view the release of 17 orphaned raptors this summer.)

This is Zoe, an intern from Amherst College, who spent all summer in '23 learning more about bird rehabilitation, rescue, education, and natural history. She lived at the Center in a new camper that we provided. Her dream is to be a wildlife veterinarian that works with the most endangered species around the world. We love supporting these young people who will make an international impact on our world.
(Watch the release of this pelican in the media gallery video below)Seen here is Joseph Molotsky, our education director, presenting a program to biology students at a local high school. Bringing live birds to meet students has an enormous influence on all ages.  Our Center provided 30 programs throughout Washington this year meeting thousands of people who want to know more about our native birds. We even traveled to the Willapa National Wildlife Refuge for their bird festival '23!

Description

Discovery Bay Wild Bird Rescue (DBWBR) receives approximately 400 birds a year which have been injured or orphaned. With over 40 outdoor enclosures we are able to rehabilitate all types of native birds from hummingbirds, seabirds, songbirds to all raptors, including eagles. We also come to the aid of people who encounter wildlife and make an intense personal investment in finding care for that bird. Because of our willingness to serve all the people of Washington we make it possible for them to help in the preservation of our State's diverse populations of wild birds! 

DBWBR also uses non-releasable education ambassadors for conservation education in schools and events throughout counties in Washington that we serve. In addition, some of our non-releasable birds play an important role in raising orphaned raptors with our team of surrogates for the imprinting of young displaced raptors that need proper role models. Both osprey pictured above are an example of the importance of this work. The adult bird on the right is a non-releasable adult who acted as a mom this year to two orphaned osprey which were placed with her providing a natural setting for them. They quickly began to eat and thrive and were successfully released back to their original nest. Osprey can be extremely hard to help due to the stress they endure when in captive care. We may also receive young birds from other rehabilitation partners who recognize the importance this plays for an orphaned bird. (Check out the release video in the media gallery below of the two osprey being returned to their original nest)

Finally, DBWBR is lead testing swans, raptors, and loons to learn what is happening in the environment and passing the findings to the Washington Department of Fish and Wildlife. We are also playing an important role in the current environment of the highly pathogenic avian influenza (HPAI) outbreak by removing birds which are dead or dying and suspected of having HPAI, some of which are being tested to track the presence of avian influenza in our communities. 

Recognition

Our facility runs on the power of volunteerism and public donations. Thanks to our volunteers who feed orphaned birds, clean cages, build enclosures, and keep the facility running! Also, to our members who continually donate to keep us open and the pantry full! DBWBR also receives medical care from our professional veterinarians who give freely of their services and supplies, for which we could not do without. We could not exist without you, our partners, who fund us, who help at the facility, and who give medical care, your actions are giving birds a second chance.