Erin Allison

Erin is a South Florida native and made Key Largo her full-time home at the age of 15. She earned a B.S. in Interdisciplinary Studies from Florida International University, specializing in Education, Team Management, and Biodiversity Conservation. During her undergraduate years, Erin served as the Education and Outreach Coordinator at the Florida Keys Wild Bird Center. She later moved to West Virginia to pursue a Master of Science in Biology at West Liberty University, where she spent three years conducting research on freshwater crayfish and reptiles. After braving several northern winters, Erin was thrilled to return to the warm, subtropical climate of the Florida Keys with her Australian Cattle Dog. Erin is a published author in a scientific journal, a proud graduate of Leadership Monroe County Class XXXII, and a dedicated leader of the Florida Keys Wild Bird Center, where she combines her passions for education, wildlife conservation, and community engagement.

Bayleigh MacHaffie

Bayleigh left her hometown in Western MA to attend Lees-McRae College in Banner Elk, NC. After graduating with a dual degree in Wildlife Biology, with a concentration in Wildlife Rehabilitation, and Psychology in 2016, she knew she wanted to pursue a career in the wildlife field. She completed internships at Mystic Aquarium's Animal Rescue Clinic, White Oak Conservation Center, and even here at the Florida Keys Wild Bird Center! She worked for nearly two years as a Wildlife Rehabilitator at the Carolina Waterfowl Rescue and volunteered at the Carolina Raptor Center before taking a permanent position working with FKWBC in November of 2019. Bayleigh is a Florida state permitted General Wildlife Rehabilitator and is our federal permit holder. 

Sara Read

Sara was born and raised in New Jersey and grew up visiting the Lower Keys.

She attended Gettysburg College in Pennsylvania and graduated in 2021 with a Biology degree and Writing minor. Since graduating she has interned at the Karen Beasley Sea Turtle Rescue and Rehabilitation Center in North Carolina, worked at marine biology summer camps in North Carolina and the British Virgin Islands and most recently worked for Shoals Marine Laboratory in Maine. In her free time Sara enjoys SCUBA diving, reading, hiking and exploring new places. Sara is excited to join the FKWBC team and share her passion for conservation and environmental education! 

Danielle Podmayersky

Dani grew up in rural New Jersey and graduated from Rutgers University with a B.S. in Ecology and Evolution. After graduation, she gained rehabilitation experience at Antler Ridge Wildlife Sanctuary caring for injured and orphaned mammals. Her love of orangutans and passion for conservation led her to an internship at The Center for Great Apes in Wauchula, FL. Dani went on to work at Clinic for the Rehabilitation of Wildlife (CROW) on Sanibel Island, FL, where she fell in love with coastal and songbirds. She continued her southward migration to finally land at FKWBC in June 2025. Dani enjoys living in the Keys with her two dogs and three red footed tortoises! 

Your Name

We are currently hiring a Hospital Coordinator! If you are interested in joining our team, please email your resume, cover letter, and three professional references to admin@keepthemflying.org with the subject line "Hospital Coordinator - Your Name".

Ken Lorber

"I am a nature lover. I like to help all animals, make people happy, save the world, and believe in the good. My hobbies are to be a friend and to try to learn and do work."