The Sanctuary is closed on Mondays and
all federal holidays. 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. T
he 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. 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 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. 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. 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.
