We are currently accepting Environmental Education Internship applications for January 2026
Interns selected on a rolling basis
Avian Care Internship: minimum 6-month commitment
Education Internship: minimum 4-month commitment
Avian Care Internship
Interns are invaluable to the Florida Keys Wild Bird Center. We are happy to provide 6-month, paid internships to individuals who are interested and passionate about wildlife rehabilitation and conservation. The unique ecosystem of the Florida Keys creates a great opportunity for interns to gain knowledge and experience working with a wide variety of avian species. From seabirds and shorebirds to raptors and songbirds, interns can expect to work hands-on alongside our Certified Wildlife Rehabilitators at Mission Wild Bird and independently at the Laura Quinn Wild Bird Sanctuary.
Our Avian Care internship consists of 5-day, 40-hour (sometimes more) work weeks. The schedule is split up so that individuals will be working 3-4 days a week at our Wild Bird Hospital and 1-2 days a week at our Sanctuary. We provide a $250 bi-weekly stipend and shared intern housing located on-site at our Sanctuary.
Hospital Duties include:
Daily cleaning and feeding of Hospital patients
Maintaining hospital cleanliness (i.e. sweeping, mopping, laundry, etc.)
Keeping detailed and updated records on rehab patients
Administering medication and fluid therapy
Helping rehabilitators with medical procedures including wound care, fecal floats, and X-Rays
Performing bird rescues, intakes, and releases
Being on-call for bird emergency calls at least two nights per week
Performing after-hours bird intakes
Sanctuary Duties include:
Daily husbandry of permanent sanctuary residents (i.e. feeding, cleaning, checking enclosures, cleaning perches)
Picking up donated fish from local marine centers and sorting fish for quality
Feeding and cleaning of rehabilitation patients in medical and flight cages
Occasional weighing of patients, assessing condition, and noting diet changes
Researching, organizing, and providing enrichment for residents
Interacting with visitors
Qualifications:
At least 21 years old
Willing to work 40 hours per week, including weekends and holidays with occasional evenings
6 month commitment
Ability to lift 50 lbs and work in hot, humid, and rainy weather conditions
Capable of multitasking and handling physically and mentally stressful tasks
Ability to interact with the public in a professional manner
Have a strong work ethic, positive attitude, and ability to work well with others
Valid Driver's License and clean driving record
*Start dates are flexible*
Please submit completed application along with resume, cover letter, and three professional references to careers@keepthemflying.org with the subject line “Avian Care Intern - Your Name”
Environmental Education Internship
Currently accepting applications for spring internship.
The Environmental Education Intern is a supporting role and involves participating in all aspects of education programs and outreach efforts for the Florida Keys Wild Bird Rehabilitation Center in the upper Florida Keys. Education efforts include field trips, public bird releases, afterschool programs, tours of our sanctuary, and all other public educational events for audiences of all ages. Outreach/community efforts include providing content for social media platforms, attending offsite events, tabling events, and other non-profit related events. This position also includes handling our species ambassadors, which can include a raptor, snake, and invertebrates.
The Environmental Education Intern position is a full-time, seasonal position lasting 4 months and may include some holidays, weekends, and evening hours. Typically the Environmental Education Intern works a 5-day (Monday through Friday), 40 hour work week with occasional weekend events or programs, not to exceed 40 hours a week. The goal of this position is to provide well-rounded experience to build towards a career with non-profits as well as environmental education and community outreach. We provide a $250 bi-weekly stipend and shared intern housing located on-site at our Sanctuary.
Essential Duties/Responsibilities:
● Work on an independent project approved and supported by the Outreach Coordinator over the course of the internship
● Assist Outreach Coordinator with running and delivering educational programming on and off site
● Manage sanctuary gift shop and education table, answer questions and direct visitors
● Set up and run educational booths at off-site events
● Assist with development and implementation of educational programs
● Aid in planning and setup for fundraising events
● Lead guided tours of the hospital and sanctuary for school groups and guests as scheduled
● Attend public bird releases
● Assist in gift shop operations, inventory and greeting guests
● Respond to the public’s curiosity and questions about the organization (i.e. the mission, sanctuary information, bird advice, bird injuries, etc.)
● Network with other environmental education organizations to form collaborative efforts
● Assist with content for social media including pictures, videos and captions
● Assist with volunteer group programming
● Represent the FKWBC at events as scheduled
Requirements:
● At least 21 years of age
● Currently pursuing or recent graduate with an environmental or education focused degree
or a related field
● Ability to lift 50 lbs and work in hot, humid, and rainy weather conditions
● Ability to adapt to a changing work schedule to accommodate events that
occur on weekends
● Comfortable with handling animals including birds and reptiles
● Knowledge of basic biological principles and ability to quickly master Florida Keys ecology
● Ability to teach to people of all ages
● Public speaking experience
● Possess strong communication and interpersonal skills
● Possess effective time management skills with the ability to plan, organize, and adapt
● Self-motivated, confident, and disciplined with a strong work ethic and positive attitude
● Able to respect FKWBC property as smoke- and drug-free zones
● Valid driver's license with clean driving record
Please submit completed application along with resume, cover letter, and three professional references to careers@keepthemflying.org with the subject line “Education Intern - Your Name”
Meet Our Interns!
Apprentice Rehabilitator
Allie Pydynowski
Allie is from Charlotte, North Carolina. She attended college in the mountains of NC at Appalachian State University where she pursued her Bachelors in biology with a concentration in ecology, environmental biology, and evolution. Following graduation she worked as a field technician studying birds in Southern California and then in Franklin NC, the following summer. Now she is very excited to be here in the Keys, pursuing her dream of working in wildlife rehab! In her free time she enjoys hiking, reading, and baking. Her favorite birds are Carolina Chickadees and Piping Plovers.
Environmental Education Intern
Allie Brundage
Allie grew up in Connecticut and studied Biology at the University of Rhode Island. Before heading off to college, she shadowed at a veterinarian’s office where she was exposed to various surgeries and became fascinated with animal care and rehabilitation. During her time at URI, Allie studied abroad in Australia which solidified her interest in marine life and grew her love for avian species. One of her favorite experiences was at O’Reilly’s Rainforest where she fed one of her favorite bird species, the Rainbow Lorikeet. Allie is so excited to explore the reef, grow her knowledge of conservation, and overall experience what the Keys have to offer. Allie’s favorite birds are Rainbow Lorikeets and Kookaburras.
Avian Care Intern
Ellie Abernathy
Ellie is from Columbia, Missouri and studied biology and psychology at the University of Missouri. Ellie has always loved animals and birdwatching, and her experiences in college strengthened that love. At Mizzou, she worked with reptiles, songbirds, and insects, and went abroad to work with sea turtle conservation in Costa Rica. She fell in love with the tropical environment there and is so excited to start her journey in wildlife rehab in the Keys! In her free time, she likes to take photos of wildlife and read. Her favorite birds are the Black Capped Chickadee and the Great Blue Heron.
Apprentice Rehabilitator
Audrey Resnicow
Audrey grew up in Maryland and studied animal science at UMD, during which she raised lambs at the campus farm, interned at a wildlife rehab center, and assisted with research on zebra finches. She knew she wanted to work with animals, but wasn’t sure in what capacity. She spent 6 years in the veterinary field, at veterinary hospitals and National Institutes of Health - but she couldn’t stop thinking about the wildlife rehab clinic she spent a summer interning at. So last year she quit her research job at NIH and enrolled in graduate courses for wildlife conservation. During her classes she traveled across Europe, surfed in Costa Rica and Rio de Janeiro, and she discovered a love for the ocean. Now she’s living her dream of working with wildlife and living by the ocean and is very excited to explore what the keys have to offer!
Avian Care Intern
Mary Soboslay
Mary is from Lorain, Ohio, and recently graduated from Olivet Nazarene University with a degree in zoology. While at ONU, she was a specialist on their Animal Care Team and took care of both freshwater and saltwater fish, various reptiles and amphibians, and even a green cheeked conure. Her love for all animals has always been strong, but a trip to the Clinic for the Rehabilitation of Wildlife (CROW) in Sanibel, Florida when Mary was 12 is what first inspired her to want to work hands-on with animals. During the summer of 2023, she completed a wildlife internship at the Lake Erie Nature & Science Center in Bay Village, Ohio. This incredible experience solidified her desire of wanting to work in wildlife rehabilitation. The beach and warm weather have been her happy place for a long time, so Mary is thrilled to be living out her dream of living in Florida while also getting to work in the field that motivated her from a young age. Her favorite birds are barred owls and blue-footed boobies!
Avian Care Intern
Grace Luxon
Grace grew up in Texas and studied zoology at Ohio Wesleyan University. Before heading to college she completed an avian care internship in Northern California and volunteered at the Dallas Zoo. During her time at OWU she was able to study abroad 3 times in South Caicos, Chile, and Australia where she conducted a variety of fieldwork ranging from marine conservation to rewilding patagonia national park to ecological assessments in the Australian bush. She has fostered a love for the ocean and wildlife and is excited to not only be near the water but help animals in need as well! Her favorite birds are barred owls and osprey.
Avian Care Intern
Aryanna North
Aryanna is from Oklahoma, and recently graduated from Oklahoma State University, where she double majored in Zoology and Conservation Biology & Ecology. Her background spans multiple disciplines in wildlife biology, including analyzing trail camera footage in Ungulates, studying gray tree frog vocalizations, aiding in white-tailed deer captures, and studying avian behavior. Notably, she has made contributions to a global meta-analysis on climate effects on avian reproduction, and she is currently in the process of getting her study published. Her favorite bird is the American Kestrel, and she plans to pursue her master's degree in Fall 2026 with the goal of continuing research in animal biology.