The Suncoast Seabird Sanctuary, Inc. is located in the town of Indian Shores in Pinellas County. It is unique among the Florida attractions and well worth the trip to visit. It is staffed by a group of experienced professionals assisted by many volunteers. Like a human hospital, it is equipped with emergency facilities, a surgical center, recovery areas, and indoor and outdoor recuperation areas. This facility daily treats an average of 20-24 wild birds that have been injured.
Causes range from fish hooks and fishing line to gunshot wounds.
At any visit you can see in excess of 600 wild birds , from cormorants, white egrets, and brown pelicans to birds of prey living at the sanctuary. Although the goal is to release the birds after they have recuperated from their injuries, some , who have lost an eye or a limb, remain in permanent residence. Any offspring they may produce are released to their natural habitat. The Sanctuary has become world renowned for its captive breeding program of The Eastern Brown Pelican that has helped to educate zoological facilities and wildlife refuges from Europe to Asia. The Sanctuary is situated on Gulf front property and visitors are free to wander around the open air facility.