In its early years, our current 950-sq. ft. building provided more than enough room to treat the approximately 300 pelicans and seabirds admitted each year. But as our organization grew, so did our patient numbers. In the last five years, our patient intakes have increased 275% and we now admit over 2,300 patients of around 150 different native species annually. In order to accommodate such rapid growth, we have constructed additional pens and modified several others to support the diverse patient load seen today. However, we are now bursting at the seams with thousands of patients of over a hundred species each year. After a two-year search and having explored over 18 unviable options, we immediately knew that the expansive property at NE 82nd Street would be our future home. 

In an urban environment like Miami, noise pollution is an unfortunate reality. Our current facility is located in a popular marina, where music, jet skis, and construction noise is common. Our new facility will face similar challenges, however, we have taken these new factors into consideration and have developed our plans to reduce noise. Working with the guidance of a professional acoustical consultant, the designs for the project include elements such as a sound mitigation barrier along the east side of the property, a protective acoustic system partially surrounding our raptor flight pen, and special attention given to placement and specification of the building’s glazing system.

We plan to break ground by the end of 2023 and move in early 2025

No! We have consulted with native plant specialists and are also working closely with the architect to protect as many of the trees as possible. The property has a number of old-growth trees that are a valuable part of the ecosystem and that will continue to shade large areas of the property, as well as our patients and visitors.

We are in a long-term lease with Miami-Dade County and do not own our current location, so we do not have control over what becomes of our current facility. 

There is archeological evidence that our plot of land was previously a Tequesta Native American settlement. Fragments of pottery and other artifacts have been discovered and we are working closely with an archeologist during construction to preserve any history that may still be intact. Later down the road, the property belonged to famed Miamian Julia Tuttle, who used the land as an orange grove. Currently, it is zoned as residential and was at risk of being sold to a developer to build a condo complex of over 47 townhomes. We are thankful to be able to preserve the natural habitat surrounding this portion of the Little River, one of the four original rivers that flow into Biscayne Bay in Miami-Dade County. Home to some of the earliest indigenous settlements in Florida, as well as early Jesuit encampments and historic agricultural development at Lemon City, the Little River is one of the most historic sites in Miami. Henry Flagler’s original railroad also crosses the Little River and was an important transportation artery for taking Lemon City’s citrus to the North.

No, our staff and volunteers deep clean all outdoor enclosures 1-2x a day, and the wild animals in our care are generally very quiet.

Despite being waterfront, this new property is positioned over 7 ft. above sea level, one foot higher than the average elevation of Miami-Dade County.