SARASOTA, Fla. — Here in the tranquility of this rescue, dozens and dozens of seabirds now call this spot their forever home.

The Save our Seabirds Sanctuary is a place that offers a second chance for injured wildlife. No one knows what they do better here at the sanctuary than the CEO himself, Aaron Virgin, in his current position for the past year and a half. His calling has always been with wildlife. 

Starting off his career as a wildlife biologist, he eventually transitioned those skills into the fundraising side of things. Before moving here to Florida three years prior, he managed similar rescues in New York state.

“It's such a great place to work. I love birds and everyone that works here loves birds," he said. "So it's great to see the excitement from a 2-year-old all the way up to a 92-year-old have the same level of joy when they see these birds in person.”

The sanctuary itself sits on several acres on the water just across from Sarasota's Mote Marine Laboratory. Their mission is aimed at rescuing injured birds and rehabilitating them so they can be released back into the wild. Some birds do find their forever home at the sanctuary though, ones that need medical care for the remainder of their lives.

Walking through their natural pathways, you'll get to see a host of unique birds that are native to Florida. You can get either a self-guided or guided tour that will allow you to not just learn about these impressive birds, but also gain a new understanding for conservation of our Florida seabirds. 

The Save our Seabirds Sanctuary is free and open to the public seven days a week from 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. For more information on the work they're doing and upcoming events, just head to their website.