America’s Largest Bird Sanctuary

[MUSIC PLAYING] Hi, “Guidepost” readers. I’m Ralph Heath, founder and director of the Suncoast Seabird Sanctuary, the largest wild bird hospital in the United States. In 1981, we were extremely honored to be visited by the “Guidepost” magazine folks. And of course, back in 1981, we were getting five to six birds admitted a day that were either sick or injured. And of course, today, we’re getting up to 15 to 20 birds admitted a day. 

Back in 1975, we had the first baby pelican ever hatched at the sanctuary from crippled parents. And as far as we know, that was the first time that any pelicans had been hatched successfully from crippled parents– or even from normal parents– anywhere in the world. So from a rather meager beginning, we had the opportunity to show that the birds were valuable other than just taking up time and space. 

The types of birds that we get in here is absolutely every wild species here in Florida, including some of the rare ones like some of the falcons. But when a bird is brought in here to the sanctuary, of course it’s immediately checked out by the medical staff. After the bird is obviously getting stronger and feeling better, it’s transported out to the secondary part of the sanctuary, which is not the intensive care, but is the initial hospital recuperation area, where the bird is still closely monitored until it can be put out in the general population of birds. Which would be leading to its full recovery, or if, in case the bird is permanently crippled, then we of course make a home for it. 

Only when I’m alone, no one else is around, these birds will actually walk, crawl, hobble, or in some way come up to me, even to fly and landing on my shoulder. I’ve had one huge heron come up to me and allow me to work on it, that had a giant gash in the back from a fishhook. And then, of course after he was fully recovered, I opened up my doors there at the house, and he walked out and flew down on the beach. 

But if you take care of a bird, what’s interesting about them is they’re always faithful to you. They’re always your friend. They’ll always love you. And I had this little pigeon come in, which was badly damaged after being hit by a car, so I took a particular interest in this little pigeon. And this little pigeon will not sleep unless she’s in my bedroom in a box where she can see me. 

And sometimes, if I’m doing some paperwork, I’ll have her sit next to me in bed. And if she needs to go to the bathroom, she comes over and pecks on my arm, and that’s the signal for me to pick her up, put her down on the floor so she can go to the bathroom on our newspaper. And then she comes back over and stands there, and I pick her up and put her back in bed. 

Thanks, “Guidepost” readers. We sure do appreciate all your help and we hope one day you can come and visit the Suncoast Seabird Sanctuary. It’s open seven days a week. It’s always free, because after all, these are your birds, too. And we welcome you to come here and visit and certainly enjoy what is your property, and that’s the birds.