Ohio Bird Sanctuary

The Ohio Bird Sanctuary was founded in 1988, by Executive Director Gail Laux, as the Richland County Raptor Rehabilitation Center. The Bird Sanctuary signed a lease with the Heart of Ohio Boy Scout Council in 1995 to create a public facility at the site of Camp Avery Hand. Through public, private and foundation support the
Sanctuary developed a public facility that opened the summer of 1999. In 2007 the Ohio Bird Sanctuary entered into a land contract with the Heart of Ohio Council to purchase the 52 acres it had historically leased. In 2009 the Sanctuary purchased additional acreage and a building suitable for renovation into a larger visitors center.

The development of the public facility occurred in stages. 1996-98 the board of trustees and volunteers created a trail system and conducted fund-raisers to renovate an existing building and parking lot. This first phase opened the doors of the Sanctuary for summer camps and special events. In 1999 a visitors center was constructed with an interpretive lobby, resource library, classroom, receiving area for sick and injured birds, office space, and an outdoor display area for live birds. Completion of this phase created a public educational center for hosting school groups and presently houses all the Sanctuary’s operations. A brick walkway and boardwalk were constructed to make the facility accessible to all individuals.