International Bird Rescue: When Waterbirds are in Crisis

JD Bergeron
Berkeley: Thursday, October 18, 2018
6:30 p.m. refreshments, 7 p.m. program

JD releasing a patient

International Bird Rescue (IBR) has become a global leader in responding to man-made disasters affecting wildlife, including oil spills. To date, their response teams have led wildlife rescue efforts in more than 225 spills across six continents. Bird-Rescue’s mission is to inspire people to act toward balance with the natural world by rescuing waterbirds in crisis. IBR runs two world-class wildlife centers in California where their team cares for an average of 4,500 animals each year, including pelicans, herons, shorebirds, and other aquatic species. Avian patients are brought in for many reasons, and may be emaciated, dehydrated, ill, injured, and/or orphaned when they arrive. International Bird Rescue believes that ‘every bird matters’ and rehabilitation is geared to ensure as many birds as possible can be returned to the wild with a viable second chance to survive.

JD brings to his leadership a birder’s passion, a childlike delight in Nature, and a deep commitment to solving world challenges in unconventional ways. He has more than 20 years of experience in not-for-profit leadership, international development, and organizational change. JD is also the Co-Founder of Chooda, which puts on Bike Zambia, a weeklong bicycle ride that raises funds and awareness for HIV/AIDS prevention and economic empowerment for girls and women in Zambia.