Tri-State Bird Rescue and Research

FY 2023 Bird Preservation & Protection Programs: BIRD CARE The clinic admitted 3415 birds between these dates. Over 120 different neotropical species which included over 1,800 individuals. The clinic admitted 169 different species during this time period. Some of the specialty birds that the clinic admitted were: 101 bald eagles, 13 peregrine falcons, 27 ruby-throated hummingbirds, 44 chimney swifts, 12 Yellow-crowned Night heron, 44 great horned owls, 48 wood ducks, and 18 common loons. The number one species represented in the clinic was the American robin making up 32.2% of our caseload (336 individuals). The clinic released over 789 individuals during the above time period with a survival rate after the first 24 hours of 66.8%. Out of those released over 185 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 (173 individuals), hit by vehicle (316 individuals), and displaced from nest (479 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 2,724 birds and at its height admitted 44 birds in one day. Tri-State admitted 92 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 53.9% (1839 individuals), Pennsylvania at 24.5% (836 individuals) and Maryland at 17% (565 individuals).

FY 2024 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 2024, Tri-State brought on 49 new volunteers that completed a new volunteer orientation in addition to role specific hands-on training. Between April 2023 and March 2024, Tri-State hosted 151 individual volunteers who served a total of 13, 760.50 volunteer hours. During FY 24, 12 interns trained with our clinic team and served a combined total of 3,282.5 hours of volunteer service. The twelve 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 November 2023 and March 2024, our team hosted an advanced training workshop for best practices in field response and transporting injured wild birds. There were 21 participants in November and 12 in March. Attendees represented our own volunteers in addition to those 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 2024, our team reached over 8,000 members of the surrounding community by participating in outreach events and festivals. During this same time, our team also reached 1,372 students and 390 scouts/campers 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 over 18,000 telephone inquiries and conducting outreach programs. In addition, an annual open house is held each Spring attracting approximately 750 visitors to the campus in Newark, DE.

FY 2024 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 Oiled Wildlife Response Team maintains availability 24/7 and has been able to respond to incidents continually during FY 24. The Oil Team responded to four wildlife incidents in three different states and were placed on standby for several more. Oiled wildlife responses involved capture, stabilization, wash, and release of affected native wild birds. The Oil Team has presented at and attended meetings and conferences such as the US Coast Guard (USCG) Sector Delaware Bay Area Committee Meetings, USCG Sector Maryland Area Committee Meetings, meetings for Regional Response Teams 1,2,3,4,5,6,7 and the Caribbean Regional Response Team, USCG Atlantic Strike Team Roadshow, the Clean Gulf conference in New Orleans, the National Wildlife Rehabilitators Association Symposium, and the Global Oiled Wildlife Responders group. The Oil Team participated in a full-scale oil spill exercise for Phillips 66, USCG Sector Delaware Bay, USCG Sector Maryland, USCG Sector North Carolina, 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, US Fish & Wildlife Service, National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration, US Coast Guard, state wildlife trustee agencies, and animal care colleagues. The Oil Team also contributed to the field of oil spill preparedness by fulfilling several contracts to create oiled wildlife contingency plans and provide oiled wildlife response training. In FY 24 the Oil Team created two new oiled wildlife contingency plans, including a plan for the USCG Sector Delaware Bay Area Contingency Plan, and updated the contingency plan for the Maine Department of Inland Fisheries & Wildlife.