Jay Holcomb - Beyond the Ordinary Dot Net

~~~ Jay Holcomb ~~~

Jay Holcomb, considered one of the world leaders in oiled wildlife rehabilitation is Executive Director of International Bird Rescue Research Center. Jay has over 35 years of experience in wildlife rehabilitation and dedicated the last 22 years to oiled wildlife and aquatic bird rehabilitation and response. He has led IBRRC's oil spill response team and been on site for most of over 175 national and international oil spill responses. During the Exxon Valdez Spill (AK 1989), Jay pioneered the search & rescue program in Prince William Sound, the largest of its kind ever attempted, while he managed the entire 6-month rehabilitation program caring for over 1,600 birds. He also led efforts and oversaw the rehabilitation of 21,000 oiled African Penguins, one third of the entire world population of that species, in the Treasure Oil Spill, South Africa (2001). That resulted in the release of 95% of those birds and is today considered one of the greatest actions ever taken to preserve the African Penguin.

Along with on site, hands on work, he has served on the Board of Directors for the

National Wildlife Rehabilitators Association, was president of the International Wildlife Rehabilitation Council for 8 terms, and has received several awards, including the 1996 NWRA Lifetime Achievement Award, the highest award given in the field of wildlife rehabilitation, recognizing his pioneering efforts and dedication to wildlife rehabilitation and conservation. While leading the bird rescue in the Gulf, Jay was named Oceana's Ocean Hero for 2010.

Laurie Pyne also had always wanted to work with animals, but 'life' had taken her in other direction. Both she and Jay are RSE students and at an event, Jay happened to be her seat partner - what we call "frequency specific," and her new adventure began. She trained, worked in several areas and found she was assigned to Jay's team for the Gulf oil disaster. On their first program, having just recently returned, they speak about the efforts of so many and their impressions, of the months they spent there.

Jay's desire to share his and IBRRC's unique knowledge led him to create IBRRC's International Internship Program that has sponsored over 35 individuals from around the world who demonstrated a desire to learn about oiled bird rehabilitation, many of them come to California to train in IBRRC's specialized aquatic bird rehabilitation facilities, and then take that knowledge back to their countries. See more at: www.ibrrc.org

Jay has always promoted and lived the point of view that "Animals hold the key to man's own evolution from conflict to peace, lack to abundance. Animals live 'in the moment' and each and every individual animal is important, valuable, and purposeful to the world. They are our brothers and sisters and we are deeply connected to them. Therefore, it is our responsibility and should be our privilege and honor to care for them as needed. If we are astute then we will pay attention to what they are showing us. They can be our greatest teachers if we allow them to be. We just need to observe them."

There is much to talk about, much we will learn from inside the lines and related topics in future programs.