BRI is celebrating a milestone in its more than 25-year history—the groundbreaking ceremony that begins the expansion of the Institute’s headquarters. The ceremony will be held on September 5th from 10:45 to 11:30 AM at BRI’s headquarters at 276 Canco Road, Portland.

“This groundbreaking ceremony is more than a gesture to mark the addition to our office building,” says BRI founder, executive director, and chief scientist David Evers, Ph.D. “This event represents the growth of a committed team of conservation biologists who are making a difference in our local community, in our state, and in the world at large.”

BRI’s story began in 1989 with the capture of a Common Loon on a Michigan lake in an effort to understand ecological threats to this iconic species. Over the last three decades, Dr. Evers has built an organization whose mission from the start has been to continually assess threats to wildlife and ecosystems through collaborative research, and to use scientific findings to advance environmental awareness and inform decision makers.

“The City of Portland is proud to partner with local organizations like BRI in confronting the environmental challenges that impact our community and beyond,” says Portland Mayor Mark Dion. “We are happy to be a small part in assisting the continued contributions of this science-driven member of the Portland business community.”

Mayor Dion and other local city leaders will be attending this event. “We are grateful for the City’s interest in celebrating this milestone for BRI, not only for what it means to us, but what it means to the state of Maine,” says Evers.

BRI’s research capabilities continue to grow under four research centers: Mercury Studies; Climate Change and Conservation; Offshore Wind Development and the Environment; and Waterbird Studies. These Centers oversee nearly 20 programs that focus on taxonomy, habitat type, and ecological issues. BRI’s capabilities also include five distinct research labs on premises: toxicology; quantitative wildlife ecology research; wildlife remote acoustics and imagery; wildlife forensics; and wildlife health and pathology.