Care for injured, ill, or orphaned native wild birds. Help us in their rescue, rehabilitation, and release back into the wild!

The Bird Rescue Center is a wildlife rehabilitation center for Sonoma County’s wild native birds. Our mission is two-fold: to assist in the rescue, rehabilitation, and release of injured, orphaned, or ill birds, and to educate the public regarding their ecological importance through our phone, outreach, and Educational Ambassador Programs. The Bird Rescue Center is a 501c3 non-profit wildlife hospital that has serviced Northern California for 40 years, providing care for approximately 3,000 birds each year that are brought to us by the public.

Position:

The Hospital Intern is responsible for performing and coordinating daily avian care and husbandry at The Bird Rescue Center. Interns must be able to work individually as well as in a team, have significant communication and multi-tasking skills, and have the best interest of the animal in mind. Hospital Interns work directly under the Hospital Manager and Clinic Supervisors but are also expected to work without direct supervision.

How to Apply:

This year, The Bird Rescue Center (BRC) is teaming up with our friends at Sonoma County Wildlife Rescue (SCWR) to recruit and select interns for both centers’ summer internship programs. While each program stands alone, we share the same application process. During the application, you will have the opportunity to specify if you are applying to one or both centers. Therefore, before applying, please look over SCWR’s internship program for more information on their available program https://scwildliferescue.org/internship.

To apply, complete the Google Form Application, which includes mandatory submission of 3 professional references, a cover letter, and your resume.

If you are unable to fill out an online form, you may also mail or email an Application PDF, with your 3 professional references, a cover letter, and your resume to SCWR’s Intern Director (intern@scwildliferescue.org) or SCWR’s PO Box:

Sonoma County Wildlife Rescue
RE: Internship Application
PO Box 448
Cotati, CA 94931

Terms of Internship:

• Consecutive 12-week period with potential start-dates in April, May, or June.
• Interns commit to a minimum of 24 hours a week (3, 8-hour shifts) in our wildlife hospital.
• A typical Intern’s schedule is two 8-hour weekdays and one 8-hour weekend day, but this schedule is flexible for the right candidate. Term start and end dates may also be flexible for the right candidate.
• Any potential absences must be scheduled BEFORE term begins and be included in an Intern’s commitment contract. One sick day is allowed per term.
• We do not currently have paid internship opportunities available in the wildlife hospital.
• We do not provide housing or transportation.
• All interns must read and sign required paperwork, including a Commitment Contract and COVID Waiver.
• Upon successful completion of the program, interns will be considered an experienced wildlife volunteer and are eligible for written personal references from The Bird Rescue Center medical staff.

Skills you will gain:

• Species-specific knowledge of local, native avian natural histories, including but not limited to dietary requirements, molt patterns, migratory patterns, habitat preferences, etc.
• Skills for identifying local avian species, including age and sex when applicable.
• Proper species and age-specific care, feeding, housing, & cleaning of native, wild birds.
• Performing examinations and basic rehabilitation assessments on incoming patients.
• Performing weekly health checks on in-house birds to ensure they are receiving proper nutrition, housing, medication, enrichment, and physical therapy based upon their individual treatment requirements.
• Assisting with various diagnostics (i.e., blood draws), treatments, and surgery as needed.
• Maintenance of animal care records and data entry of these records.
• Basic laboratory procedures (i.e., fecal, blood smear, PCV) and aiding in equipment maintenance.
• Admitting patients from the public and aiding both in person and over the phone regarding avian natural history questions, field rescues, safe transport, emergency care, and human-wildlife conflicts.
• Assisting in the coordination and release of patients as needed.
• Safety training to capture, restrain, and work with wildlife.

Qualifications:

• 18 years of age or older.
• Maintain current membership with The Bird Rescue Center.
• Proof of a current Tetanus shot and current health insurance.
• Must have a valid driver’s license and your own reliable transportation.
• Availability to work flexible days and hours including nights, weekends, and holidays.
• Ability to perform physically demanding tasks such as lifting/moving 40+ pounds, bending, cleaning, and working long hours on your feet.
• Must be comfortable in a fast-paced, high-stress environment.
  • Must be comfortable with the medical aspects of a wildlife hospital, including but not limited to the sight of blood, use of medical supplies (i.e., needles), the sight if injured/ill animals, and death or euthanasia.
• Comfortable with Microsoft Office (Excel, Word, PowerPoint) and other basic computer skills.
• $50 Administrative Fee upon entering the internship program (application process is free).
• Scholarships are available for those with limited income.
• Proof of a negative COVID test performed within 1 week of starting the internship and willingness to follow BRC’s COVID-19 safety measures through the duration of the internship.