Volunteers for the Marathon Wild Bird Center

Karyn joined the volunteer team just after hurricane Wilma. She works at Marine Bank in Marathon. She helps with everything - office, rescues, minor surgeries, community affairs in which MWBC is included (Earth Day, NOAA's Kid Fair,etc.). She's GREAT!!

D.D. has been a volunteer for over ten years. We don't know how she does it, but in addition to working full-time at the Coldwell Banker Schmitt Real Estate office, D.D. enjoys three evening shifts each week...and more, when we're desperate for help! D.D. is so skilled that we can leave the center in her capable hands. D.D. has given so much of her time, money, and soul to the Bird Center...we just love her for it!

Colin has been a volunteer for over a year now and we are grateful to have him. Earlier this year, when we were slammed, Colin became our first-ever part-time employee. Colin works five mornings a week and has become efficient at critical care in the hospital. In addition, he helps to recruit and train volunteers.

Michelle has volunteered for the MWBC for several years. She also enjoys helping the Turtle Hospital. She is holding a Broadwing Hawk which has a fascinating story. Click for more information about the Hawk.

Stand Up For Animals awarded Marathon Wild Bird Center volunteer Shannon Aument the Animal Hero Award for 2007 at its annual dinner this past March, 2007. Currently a sophomore in high school, Shannon has been a volunteer at the Marathon Wild Bird Center since 2004. Shannon's dedication to her weekly afternoon shift has been unwaivering. An avid animal lover, Shannon not only finds dozens of animals to analyze in the hammock on a regular basis, but takes a keen interest in all our unique plant life as well. Shannon has participated in numerous rescues including the netting of agitated great white herons and frequently offers to assist our veterinarians with surgical procedures, most often acting as our in-house anesthesialogist. Although Shannon regularly participates in releases, she has spent many hours before and after hurricanes, helping us to either secure our patients or return them to their pens once the danger has passed. Shannon is an extraordinary human being with a tender touch and a geniune "way with animals". Upon graduation Shannon hopes to enroll in college and become a veterinarian.

Lee has been a volunteer for years, previously working as a shift volunteer. Now Lee is invaluable as our administrative assistant. When not working at her other part-time jobs, Lee helps us to keep the bills paid, checks deposited and oversees a ton of paperwork that comes with reports, fund-raisers and grant applications.

Lee's husband, Jay, is a musician who has donated his talent several times at local fund-raisers. Jan and Lee hosted a great dessert party on their beach for all our volunteers.

We owe so much to this great tackle shop. Dave Navarro and his always friendly staff work with the Bird Center on a daily basis. The frozen fish delivered for the Bird Center is temporarily stored in their freezers until we are able to pick it up. Also, injured birds from the general public are brought to their store for us to pick up. They supply us with live shrimp on occasion for finicky eaters. Dave invites Kelly to talk at their fishing seminars to educate the public about bird/people safety, problems with fishing line, and how to release a bird if hooked. Be sure to visit their web site: www.worldclassangler.com or call 305-743-6139.

Almost 20 years ago Jeannie and her husband Ivan moved into the Knights' Keys Campground near the Seven Mile Bridge. While Ivan relished in his role as Park Superintendent, Jeannie tended to the campground's reservations and to the couple's pet birds, parrots. It was these pet birds that led people to call on Jeannie "the bird lady" and Ivan to help with injured wild birds. Her first baby bird arrived May 1986, an orphaned ground dove. Jeannie would care for as many as 50 orphaned baby birds of all types each summer. For many years injured wild birds were rescued, stabilized, and rides arranged for them from the Middle Keys to Laura Quinn's Florida Keys Wild Bird Center in Tavernier. In 1995, Marathon Wild Bird Center was established and Knight's Key Campground continued to accept birds that were now treated here in Marathon. Jeannie is a MWBC board member.

You name it, he's probably helped us with it! Mac is a talented bird rescuer that hardly ever comes back from a rescue empty handed. A volunteer for years, Mac lives nearby and is often called upon to rescue a bird or pick-up our latest fish delivery. A retired engineer, Mac is the one we call when we have a problem. He's saved us a bunch of times when we needed new plumbing or old plumbing repaired.

Kelly can actually call Doug and Chris her very first volunteers, 1994. The Sutton's helped Laura Quinn when they lived in the Upper Keys. When they purchased a house on Grassy Key, Laura suggested they call Kelly. Orginially from Michigan, now they are retired (not the right word for them) but keep busy with home remodeling. Chris and Doug also help with turtles, raise baby birds for the MWBC, and are very good at rescues - always coming back with an injured bird in their arms.

Sandi, a retired schoolteacher, has been a volunteer for over five years. Previously Sandi was a regular shift volunteer, but now fills in when needed and is glad to assist with rescue calls throughout the year. When not at the Bird Center, Sandi and her husband Stu enjoy gardening and entertaining friends and family that come to visit their lovely home in the Florida Keys.

Not only is Susie our web mistress, but has her own reputation as "the bird lady" on Conch Key where she lives with her husband, Gerald. Susie is best known to us as our Foster Grackle Mommy. Over the last few summers Susie has raised hundreds of baby birds, specializing in common grackles but also including mockingbirds, red-bellied woodpeckers, starlings, a red cardinal, and a baby cormorant.