OHIO BIRD SANCTUARY
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Mission Statement
The mission of the Ohio Bird Sanctuary is to create an environment of learning and interaction with nature that generates within people a desire to be compassionate and good citizens of our natural world. We accomplish this through providing innovative environmental education and modeling stewardship of wildlife and natural resources. The The mission is carried out by providing three primary services: professional care for injured and displaced native birds, educational programs, and operation of a nature preserve and living museum that has been thoughtfully designed for accessibility. Avian rehabilitation services are provided by trained staff and a veterinarian. Ohio Bird Sanctuary staff are recognized as leaders in the field, and our rehabilitation facilities are utilized as benchmarks for standard of care by the Ohio Division of Wildlife.
About This Cause
EDUCATION: The Sanctuary provides educational and enriching programming on and off site. The Sanctuary’s educational outreach program is a unique dimension of our work as a wildlife center in Ohio. Our educational programs intertwine conservation and stewardship into a science-based curriculum. The Sanctuary staff are highly educated professionals in the field of environmental education. All head staff have degrees in Zoology or Environmental Science and stay current on new programming initiatives by regularly attending education seminars and workshops. We provide in-classroom, environmental and life science-based education throughout Ohio serving our local districts and any school districts lacking similar nature education programming. The Sanctuary’s approach is to provide an educational continuum with programs designed to foster “Global Citizenship” -- the idea that we all live, as citizens, on the same planet Earth. The Sanctuary continually seeks ways to engage children and youth of all ages with nature (through classroom outreach, field trips, nature camps, home school sessions, family events, Junior Volunteers, Junior Naturalists, and Internships for college students). Our outreach programs for schools can be customized for students in elementary school, junior high or middle school, and up to high school. The Sanctuary’s onsite group programs include summer camps for children ages 6-12 and a Junior Naturalists group for youth ages 13-18. Children who age out of camp are encouraged to apply as Junior Naturalists or continue as Junior Volunteers with the Sanctuary. As an integral part of our educational programs, the Sanctuary’s “wildlife ambassadors” are impeccable examples of their species. They serve as living examples of life science terms and concepts required for third, fourth, and fifth grade curriculum. The Ohio Bird Sanctuary was recently named an official 'WILD School Site’ by the Ohio Department of Natural Resources. The Ohio Bird Sanctuary is the 175th site dedicated in Ohio and the only non-school site to receive this recognition. The WILD School Sites program is considered an extension of the national Project WILD program. The Sanctuary was chosen because it is a place where learning is brought to life by reconnecting children to the outside world while teaching subjects through a specially designed curriculum. The Sanctuary has expanded its public education outreach through social media. The Sanctuary posts stories weekly about birds in our care. The stories follow a predetermined theme to provide facts about a species and/or to educate about ways we can reduce our negative impact on wildlife. AVIAN REHABILTATION: The Sanctuary’s rehabilitation facility includes a clinic, food preparation area, recovery rooms, and flight enclosure used to condition birds for release. The flight enclosure is an innovative octagonal design. It allows large raptors such as eagles and falcons to fly continuously which provides necessary conditioning for a successful release. The value of rehabilitation of native birds is greater as a public service than a conservation effort. The Sanctuary provides a place for the public to seek care for birds they have rescued free of charge. This serves the need of the individual and provides the animal with humane and proper care. Every time an individual contacts the Sanctuary for assistance, we have the opportunity to share the natural history of the species and provide guidance for future encounters that could aid the animal to remain in the wild. NATURE PRESERVE: The Sanctuary’s preserve is located on 90 acres at the head of the Clear Fork Reservoir. This area was formed as glaciers receded after the last ice age creating moraines (rolling hills). This topography and the diversity of ecosystems is home to numerous plant and animal species found nowhere else in Richland County. Over 50 species of birds utilize the Sanctuary as a nesting area. Our hiking trails wind through the preserve and include a boardwalk accessible for wheelchairs and strollers. The Sanctuary provides services to families, nature enthusiasts, educators, assisted living centers, and the public. The rehabilitation services are provided state wide. The Sanctuary directly provides these services, but it also serves as a call center to assist individuals in determining if an animal needs rescued and to guide them to the closest licensed rehabilitation center. Education programs are provided to Schools, Universities, Libraries and interest groups throughout the state of Ohio. The trails, bird displays, and new Naturescape play area are utilized by families, day care providers, and visiting groups. OBS is home to 70+ birds that cannot survive in the wild due to injury or other circumstances. These avian ambassadors are on display in large enclosures, and they provide up-close experiences for the visitors of the Sanctuary. Nature enthusiasts travel from neighboring states to explore the trails system and to observe bird species, rare plants, and invertebrates. The Sanctuary was intentionally designed to serve all individuals irrespective of their abilities. As a result, it is a valuable resource for Assisting Living Centers to provide their residents with enriching outdoor experiences.