Volunteers Needed - International Bird Rescue

Help us care for injured and oiled wildlife!

**Bird Rescue follows a comprehensive safety protocol to keep volunteers and staff safe as we navigate the ongoing COVID-19 pandemic.**

Complete a volunteer application now and we will keep you updated about future orientations. In the meantime, you can help by donating to our Amazon Wishlists or Chewy.

Every day, International Bird Rescue strives to improve medical and husbandry techniques for aquatic birds in captivity. We are proud of the dedication and support of our volunteers who participate in every aspect of the rehabilitation process. Their involvement is vital and directly impacts the successful return of animals to the wild You must be at least 18 years old to volunteer. All volunteers are required to attend an initial Orientation as a prerequisite before volunteering with us.

We ask volunteers to join our membership at a suggested price of $45 to cover the cost of training materials and a volunteer t-shirt at the completion of 40 hours. If your financial situation will make this difficult, please let us know.

How to Get Started

Complete and submit an online volunteer application form for your center of choice.

Los Angeles Wildlife Center (San Pedro, CA)

You must first fill out an online application for the Los Angeles Center before attending a virtual orientation. Monthly orientations are held on the Zoom platform.

Please email us at Volunteer.LA@Bird-Rescue.org with any questions.

Directions to the Los Angeles Wildlife Center

Note: Make sure you enter at 32nd Street and Barlow Saxton Road and head over the hill. You’ll see Bird Rescue off to the right – next to the Marine Mammal Center.

San Francisco Bay-Delta Wildlife Center (Fairfield, CA)

You must first fill out an online application for the San Francisco Bay Center before attending orientation. Please email us at Volunteer.SFBay@Bird-Rescue.org with any questions.

Directions to the San Francisco Bay-Delta Wildlife Center

The Volunteer Experience

Volunteer support is critical to the care and support that we give our patients, whether working directly with the animals we care for, or supporting their care through answering phones through our volunteer-led Bird Helpline, animal transport,  filing, cleaning, laundry, or construction. We value your skills and want your experience to be rewarding and fulfilling. However you choose to help, you are helping to return these amazing creatures back into the wild.

All volunteers begin working within the animal care program by learning “the basics,” and depending on your desire to learn and the time you have available, you can become proficient and confident in rehabilitation. Volunteers interested in a career in wildlife rehabilitation can learn valuable skills not taught elsewhere through hands-on work at our centers. Basic hospital duties include cage cleaning, laundry, preparing food, and pool maintenance. Advanced skills taught include animal capture, medicating, gavage tubing, and patient exams.