Florida Keys Wild Bird Center

MISSION WILD BIRD + LAURA QUINN WILD BIRD SANCTUARY

TAVERNIER, FLORIDA

APPLY NOW FOR UPCOMING INTERNSHIPS!

HAVE A BIRDGENCY? CLICK HERE

24/7 BIRDGENCY-ONLY HOTLINE

(305) 852 - 4486 ext. 1

HOW CAN YOU HELP?

VOLUNTEER

FKWBC welcomes dedicated, passionate volunteers to assist us in our work. Click above to read more about volunteering!

DONATE

INTERN

Interns are an integral part of our organization. They take part in every aspect of rehabilitation. Click above to read more about internships at FKWBC!

The Center is always in need of both monetary and material donations. Click above to read more about donating!

ADOPT-A-BIRD

Our Sanctuary Residents are looking for people to help fund their enclosures and dietary needs. Click above to read more about our adoption programs!

OUR FACILITIES

Click a location to read more!

Laura Quinn Wild Bird Sanctuary

93600 Overseas Highway Tavernier, FL 33070

Come visit our non-releasable wild birds! Take a walk along our boardwalk, watch the sunset, see a pelican feeding, & more.

HOURS: Monday-Sunday Sunrise-Sunset

Mission Wild Bird Hospital

92080 Overseas Highway Tavernier, FL 33070

While our Hospital area and Administrative Office are staff-only, Mission Wild Bird also houses our gift shop and visitor education center.

VISITOR CENTER HOURS: Mon-Fri 9 am - 5 pm

HOSPITAL HOURS: Mon-Sun 8:30 am - 3:30 pm

BIRDGENCY HOTLINE AVAILABLE 24/7

"The Bird Lady"

The history of the Florida Keys Wild Bird Center centers around one woman known as the "Bird Lady". It is a name that our founder, Laura Quinn, earned over the years as she created a natural legacy rescuing and rehabilitating wild birds. Originally a statistician and mathematics teacher, Quinn always loved nature. She and her husband were sailors, eventually relocating to a home in Lower Matecumbe. When asked about her time on the boat, she said, "I'd get bored on the boat. I tried to knit or crochet, but woodworking seemed to be the thing I could do that was okay to get wet." To counter her boredom, Laura began carving native birds that she encountered in the Keys.

Eventually her interest in avian species led her to collaborate with a veterinarian, Dr. Robert Foley. Together, they provided modest rehabilitation services in a facility behind her small oceanfront home. By reading bird books and observing Dr. Foley, Laura learned how to rehabilitate her feathered friends, helping them heal their broken wings, removing fish hooks, and raising the orphaned. But when the sick and injured birds she cared for increased in number and species, expansion became necessary. With a bit of well-deserved luck, Quinn acquired a 5.5 acre property on which only three-quarters of an acre could be developed - just enough space for a house and office. The rest of the property was (and remains) lush native vegetation, mangroves, hammocks, and wetlands.

Incorporated in 1988, the Florida Keys Wild Bird Rehabilitation Center, Inc. officially opened its doors as an organization in 1991. Team Wild Bird owes much gratitude to Laura Quinn, who left to fly with the birds on September 18th, 2010. Her focus and determination continue to motivate us to provide the best care possible to our patients. Our past, present, and future are the direct result of one woman embracing her passion and caring for the environment and wildlife in the Florida Keys.

The Florida Keys Wild Bird Center

Meet Team Wild Bird!

We are incredibly fortunate to have such a talented, passionate, and hard-working staff. Together, they strive to "Keep Them Flying" by providing the best care possible for our birds.