Florida  Keys Wild Bird Center

Jordan Budnik

EXECUTIVE DIRECTOR

Jordan and her jealous bird-wife Nikki moved to the Florida Keys after accepting a job with FKWBC in May 2017. She comes from a mixed background with organizations including Zoo Atlanta, the Georgia Department of Natural Resources, and Atlanta Wild Animal Rescue Effort (AWARE). She now works as FKWBC’s Executive Director, handling fundraising, coordinating community outreach programs, and speaking with donors about ways they can help “Keep Them Flying”.

JORDAN BUDNIK
EXECUTIVE DIRECTOR

Gregory Russ

WILDLIFE REHABILITATOR

Greg grew up in Oak Park, IL, a suburb of Chicago. While studying pre-veterinary medicine at University of Minnesota Twin Cities, he discovered that he loved working with birds. After graduating, Greg volunteered and interned at a variety of rehabilitation centers in Minnesota and Vermont and worked at the Raptor Education Group Inc. in Wisconsin as an Avian Technician and volunteer coordinator.  He joined FKWBC as the Wildlife Rehabilitator at the end of October 2020.  In his spare time, he loves bird watching, photography, and hiking.

GREGORY RUSS
WILDLIFE REHABILITATOR

Kenneth Lorber

FACILITIES STAFF

"I love nature and all it brings

life's great color and shape

the music of being alive

this is what we cherish

I help with daily care of birds here to give hope

and end pain"

​

Ken was previously a beloved long-time volunteer. He is now an integral part of our facilities staff. Without him, the Bird Center would not be here today.

KEN LORBER
FACILITIES MAINTENANCE STAFF

Sarah Slayton

AVIAN CARE INTERN

Hannah is originally from Charlotte, North Carolina and has dreamed of pursuing a career in the wildlife field for as long as she can remember. She earned her B.S. in Wildlife Science and Conservation Biology from North Carolina State University, and has gained wildlife experience by working at places such as the Carolina Waterfowl Rescue and the Carolina Tiger Rescue. She enjoys birdwatching and her favorite bird is the American Bittern. Hannah is super excited to continue gaining experience with wildlife at FKWBC!

HANNAH O'CARROLL
AVIAN CARE INTERN

Connor O'Hea

AVIAN CARE INTERN

Sheridan grew up in central Illinois where she earned her B.S. in Environmental Biology. She has loved animals since she was young and has worked with fishers and pine martens in California, piping plovers and least terns in North Dakota, and beavers and common loons in Minnesota. Birds have always had a special place in her heart, and she is thrilled to be able to work with them hands-on at FKWBC!

SHERIDAN NOLL
AVIAN CARE INTERN

JORDAN BUDNIK
EXECUTIVE DIRECTOR

Bayleigh MacHaffie

ASSISTANT DIRECTOR

Originally hailing from Dalton, Massachusetts, Bayleigh joined Team Wild Bird in November 2019 after spending some time in North Carolina. Previously she was a Wildlife Rehabilitator at the Carolina Waterfowl Rescue & volunteered with the Carolina Raptor Center. Bayleigh is an IWRC Certified W.R. & has earned her B.S. in Psychology & Wildlife Biology (with a concentration in Wildlife Rehabilitation) from Lees-McRae College. Aside from her obsession with Pelicans, Bayleigh adores & spoils her Cat (Charlie) & Leopard Gecko (Archie).  

BAYLEIGH MACHAFFIE
ASSISTANT DIRECTOR

Emma McCarthy

AVIAN CARE TECHNICIAN

Maggy hails from New York where she grew up going to nature camp and raising assistance dogs. With her degree in Sustainability she completed a wildlife education internship and served with AmeriCorps in New Hampshire at an environmental non-profit for two years providing watershed education, trail building, and various forms of conservation field work. Maggy is ready to get back in the bird game since she has always loved working with raptors and corvids and is excited to expand her knowledge with the variety of species the FKWBC sees throughout the year!

MAGGY POLLICINO
AVIAN CARE TECHNICIAN

Deja Canter

WILDLIFE REHABILITATOR

Deja attended Lees-McRae College in Western North Carolina where she received her B.S. in wildlife biology with a concentration in wildlife rehabilitation. Before joining the FKWBC team in March 2021, she spent time working at the May Wildlife Rehabilitation Center in Banner Elk, NC and completed a fellowship program at the Clinic for the Rehabilitation of Wildlife (CROW) in Sanibel, FL. Deja enjoys birdwatching and her favorite bird is the American Crow.

DEJA CANTER
WILDLIFE REHABILITATOR

Connor O'Hea

AVIAN CARE INTERN

Jenn is originally from Pennsylvania where she obtained her B.A. in Applied Psychology in hopes to work as a mental health technician. Though, during her senior year internship at the John James Audubon Center at Mill Grove, she quickly realized that her true passion lies somewhere else. Since graduating she has had many different animal encounter experiences and now has a focus on rehabilitation and education. She hopes to gain more hands-on knowledge while at the FKWBC to push her one step closer to her goals.

JENNIFER VERNON
AVIAN CARE INTERN

Connor O'Hea

AVIAN CARE INTERN

Nora grew up in Washington, DC and has always wanted to pursue a career working with animals. She attended Temple University, where she earned a B.S. in Biology. During her studies, Nora worked as a lab assistant researching spotted lanternflies. Recently she has had the opportunity to engage with native bird species and she is excited to gain hands-on experience working with wildlife at FKWBC!

NORA PARISI
AVIAN CARE INTERN