Step into a twilight experience where artistry meets purpose.

On March 21, 2026, Save Our Seabirds invites you to Song of the Sky, its annual gala inspired by this year’s muse: the graceful and resilient great blue heron. Taking place under the soaring ceiling of the Circus Arts Conservatory, this unforgettable evening blends live aerial performance, music, dancing, a premium open bar, and an on-theme gourmet dinner by Michael’s On East - all in support of Florida’s wild birds.

While the night promises elegance and wonder, its purpose is rooted in something far more urgent and meaningful: the rescue and rehabilitation of sick, injured, and orphaned birds in the Sarasota-Manatee area.

Save Our Seabirds is a nonprofit organization and the region’s only dedicated avian rescue center. Each year, the team responds to over 5,000 distress calls, providing emergency care, expert rehabilitation, and - whenever possible - a return to the wild.

Some birds, however, sustain injuries too severe for survival in the wild without human care. Today, nearly 100 permanent resident birds live at the center, serving as powerful ambassadors for conservation and helping educate the public about the challenges wild birds face. Open daily from 10am- 5pm with free admission, Save Our Seabirds invites visitors to explore the Bird Walk - a peaceful space to connect with these remarkable birds and, in the process, reconnect with the natural world. In a time when many feel increasingly disconnected from nature, the center offers a quiet refuge - not just for wildlife, but for people, too.

Though our skies are filled with birds, the support they receive is startlingly small. Only 3% of all charitable giving in the United States goes toward environmental and animal welfare causes combined - a category that includes everything from national parks to animal shelters to climate initiatives. Avian rescue represents only a fraction of that sliver.

Yet the need is enormous. Injuries caused by fishing lines, habitat destruction, window strikes, plastic pollution, and vehicle collisions continue to rise. And as Sarasota and the Gulf Coast region grow, so too does the pressure on local wildlife.

“This is much more than just a gala,” says Linda Mitchell, Board Chair of Save Our Seabirds. “It’s a celebration of the resilience of wild birds, and our responsibility to support the natural world around us.”

Birds are not only messengers of beauty and wonder - they are essential to healthy ecosystems. They pollinate plants, disperse seeds, control insect populations, and serve as indicators of environmental health. When birds disappear, ecosystems falter - and so does our own well-being.

North America has already lost nearly 3 billion breeding birds since 1970 - a staggering decline that signals deeper environmental imbalance. Protecting birds is about more than rescue; it’s about preserving the delicate systems that sustain all life.

Song of the Sky is not just a celebration - it’s a call to action. It’s a moment to gather around a shared purpose and give back to the birds who fill our world with life, balance, and meaning.

Guests will enjoy a multisensory evening that celebrates beauty, resilience, and second chances - from breathtaking aerial artistry to curated cuisine, premium open bar, and opportunities to connect with fellow champions of wildlife conservation.

Whether you’re a longtime supporter or new to our mission, your presence makes a difference. Every ticket, every toast, every generous act during this event fuels real, tangible outcomes: birds healed, habitats protected, and lives -  both wild and human - forever changed.

We invite you to be part of this remarkable night. Let it be more than an event on your calendar. Let it be the moment you chose to rise for the birds who need you most.

Tickets and sponsorship opportunities are now available. Learn more and reserve your place at www.SaveOurSeabirds.org/gala