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Suncoast Seabird SanctuarySt. Petersburg, FLBy Carol Muse EvansIn 1971, Ralph Heath was a young zoologist who wasn’t sure what he wanted to do with his life, but a bird with a broken wing helped him decide. He picked up the injured cormorant, took it to a local veterinarian, who stabilized the bird and told Health, “I’ve done my job. Now it’s up to you.”
Visitors to St. Petersburg can find the Suncoast Seabird Sanctuary right on the beach along the shoreline dotted with hotels and condominiums. You can see the staff in action as daily “patients” come in for treatment, either on their own at the beach or from locals who have discovered a sick or injured bird. Most common are birds that have been trapped in fishing line or hooks. (It is estimated that nine out of 10 birds brought here have suffered injuries caused in some way by humans.) See those who are permanent residents who can never be released because of permanent injury and those birds who are living in the Sanctuary until they are strong enough to be released. Some permanently injured birds are sent on to zoos and parks around the world, such as nearby Busch Gardens in Tampa.
IF YOU GO….SUNCOAST SEABIRD SANCTUARY, INC. All photos courtesy of and copyright, St. Petersburg/Clearwater Area Convention and Visitors Bureau. |
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This small act of mercy helped birth the Suncoast
Seabird Sanctuary Inc. near St. Petersburg, Florida. Over the past 32 years,
Heath and his staff have become leaders in wildlife conservation, rescuing,
restoring the health of and returning birds back into the wild that have
come to them for help from all over the world. Heath found what he wanted to
do with his life, and visitors can catch a glimpse of the wonder of birds at
his Seabird Sanctuary, open to the public.
This bird hospital isn’t fancy, and it isn’t zoo-like,
but it offers a “bird’s eye view” of the feathered life on the Florida coast
and of those feathered friends not so fortunate in the world. The Sanctuary
has rescued and healed more than 200,000 sick and injured wild birds and
attracts more than 100,000 visitors a year, seeing an average of 25-30
patients weekly. This non-profit organization survives on donations, both
corporate and private, and while donations are appreciated during a visit,
they are not required. There is also a small, quaint gift shop on the
grounds. You can event visit and talk to Heath about his work with birds and
the plight of seabirds around the globe.
Free education tours are conducted biweekly at the
Sanctuary and group tours may be arranged in advance, as well as lectures,
exhibits and educational programs and literature distribution. The Suncoast
Seabird Sanctuary has been featured on ABC’s “20/20,” CBS’s “On the Road
with Charles Kuralt;” England’s BBC, radio programs on the Voice of America,
filming of the IMAX film, “Man’s Relationship to Birds;” articles in the New
York Times and Los Angles Times and even ESPN fishing events.