Indian Shores, Fla., Feb. 1, 2017 – The date for Seaside Seabird Sanctuary’s grand opening event has been postponed. A busy time at the sanctuary, coupled with some scheduling conflicts, has prompted Sanctuary President Andrew von Gontard and the management team to move the date of the event to March.
“Our team at the sanctuary has been very busy lately caring for many of the sick birds that have recently turned up in the area,” said von Gontard. “Eddie, our operations manager, the staff and our volunteers are working very hard and focusing on the birds. My family also had some scheduling conflicts with the original date and I really wanted them all to be able to attend and share in our celebration. The new organization’s accomplishments would not have been possible without their support.”
An exact date for the event has not yet been set. The public will be invited to attend the grand opening celebration to see the many improvements at Seaside Seabird Sanctuary and hear about what is ahead for the organization.
The new organization has a strengthened mission to rescue, rehabilitate and release sick, injured and orphaned birds like the ones that have turned up in Coffee Pot Bayou and Riviera Bay Lake in St. Petersburg. The volunteers and staff have been caring for 29 pelicans, one great egret and one cormorant admitted to their Avian hospital. The entire team has been working diligently and passionately to rehabilitate these birds.
Caring for these birds has been costly and the sanctuary is asking the public to help. Seaside relies 100 percent on private donations to maintain operations. Donations can be made by mail, online or in person at the sanctuary located at 18328 Gulf Blvd., Indian Shores, FL 33785. All donations to the sanctuary are tax deductible.
About Seaside Seabird Sanctuary
Seaside Seabird Sanctuary took over operations of the sanctuary in Sept. of 2016. It was originally created in 1971 by former president and director Ralph T. Heath, Jr. The sanctuary has rescued and rehabilitated thousands of birds, ranging from the Eastern Brown Pelican to the Eastern Screech Owl. It was the first facility to breed Eastern Brown Pelicans in captivity. The sanctuary is open to the public 365 days a year. Admission is free, but visitors are encouraged to donate to support the sanctuary’s ongoing mission. More information can be found at www.seabirdsanctuary.com.