Three Rivers Avian Center Opens Doors Highlighting Sharp 52% Decline in Migratory Birds
HINTON, W.Va.—The Three Rivers Avian Center is opening its 100-acre wildlife preserve to the public for the first time, exposing a dramatic 52% decline in migratory bird populations over the past two decades. The urgent conservation message comes as the nonprofit bird rehabilitation center launches tours to boost public awareness and community action.
Wendy Perrone, executive director of Three Rivers Avian Center, said visitors now have the rare chance to meet thirteen ambassador birds, including owls, crows, and even bald eagles native to the region. “People can come in and see the facility and get to know some of our ambassadors like Gimli and Hoolie,” Perrone shared.
Alarming Decline Spurs Public Outreach in Hinton Forests
Since its establishment in 1990, the center has worked tirelessly to rehabilitate injured birds and educate the public on wildlife protection. This year, the center is taking an urgent step to engage families, bird lovers, and conservationists by offering guided tours and open house events throughout the summer.
“In the last twenty years, we’ve lost 52% of the migratory birds that used to fill our skies,” Perrone warned. “This is a really bad situation right now, and if we can get people to understand what they can do in their daily lives to help wild birds, we may be able to turn this disaster around.”
Community Events Aim to Drive Conservation Action
The nonprofit relies on private donations and grants to provide food and medical care to its feathered residents. The new public tours are designed not only to sustain operations but also to deepen the connection between local communities and the birds they share the environment with.
Visitors can expect to see a diverse range of native species in a protected forest setting, gaining a firsthand look at the ecosystem challenges birds face nationwide. Alongside the visual experience, staff provide educational materials with practical advice on how individuals can support migratory bird conservation.
Three Rivers Avian Center’s move to open the preserve represents a growing trend across the U.S., where wildlife organizations leverage public engagement to combat alarming declines in bird populations. Nevada and other states experiencing habitat loss or climate stress can look to this model as a timely example of how community-driven efforts must accelerate.
What’s Next?
The center plans to host multiple events throughout the summer 2026 season, aiming to maintain strong visitor turnout and funding momentum. Organizers stress that every visitor’s awareness and action can contribute to reversing the dangerous drop in migratory birds that once filled American skies broadly.
As bird populations continue to fall, facilities like Three Rivers Avian Center serve as both a sanctuary and a clarion call. Their groundbreaking public tours bring the urgent message to communities in West Virginia—and nationwide—that the window to help migratory birds is closing fast.
“This is a disaster in the making,” Perrone emphasized. “We need immediate public awareness and action to protect these vital creatures.”
