IBRRC: Brown pelicans in peril again

Mission Statement
Director's Message
Founder's story
Oil spill history
Partnerships
Services
Success stories
Northern California
Southern California
Alaska
Education program
Birds in focus
How oil affects birds
Safe bird handling
Training
Volunteer center
Buy T-shirts & hats
Internship program
Job opportunities
Links
Newsletter archive
Press releases
Regional reps
Response team bios
Staff list
Translate site
Website credits

Another tough time for brown pelicans

IBRRC bird centers see flood of sick, disoriented birds; help needed

Tell a friend

Feb. 11, 2009 Update: California Brown Pelican event

Treating a sick pelican. (IBRRC photo)

A quatic bird specialists, International Bird Rescue Research Center (IBRRC) is noticing a trend in California Brown Pelicans along the coastline from Monterey to San Diego and they need your help. As of Jan 15, 2009, over a 160 pelicans have come into care at both IBRRC centers.

Typically this time of year we would see a significant die-off of YOUNG brown pelicans. We are seeing a larger than normal die-off of ADULTS - those are tremendously valuable to a population, potentially contributing to other species. This is not a good sign.


The pelican rescue on Venice Beach: a little film by Tao Ruspoli/Mangusta & LAFCO productions

Secondly, we are seeing some common conditions - disorientation - birds landing inland, being found in neighborhoods, on roads, runways, etc. This disorientation implies something is wrong, possibly neurologically. In fact recent tests of six pelicans three show levels of domoic acid. See update: 1/8/2009 Press Release

IBRRC is asking for your help in reporting ailing pelicans to your local rescue organization or by calling the toll-free California Wildlife Hotline 866-WILD-911. You are encouraged to leave information on dead pelicans there as well by pressing option 2.

How to help

Feeding pelicans (IBRRC photo)

Both of IBRRC's facilities are in need of assistance in transporting pelicans from other centers and with the care of the high number of birds in treatment. There's dire need for funds to offset the cost of caring for these huge birds - their adopt a pelican program is a unique way to help while being personally involved in a pelican's care and release. Adopt-a-pelican

To help, please send inquiries to this e-mail or call the Fairfield facility at (707) 207-0380 Ext 110 or the San Pedro center at (310) 514-2573.

New School Classroom Partners

Classrooms can adopt a pelican for $300.00. When your pelican is ready for release, the entire class is welcome to watch as the bird receives its final examination. They will also participate in setting the bird free. Included in the adoption is a commemorative certificate which will include your school and classroom name, date, place of release and your pelican’s federal band number. E-mail us for more information on this program.

Kudos to the Daily Breeze newspaper in Southern California for the pelican story Swooping in for birds in need: Pelicans overload rescue center in San Pedro. The article captures perfectly the increase in sick and hungry brown pelicans coming into the San Pedro bird center.

Jay Holcomb, IBRRC's Executive Director was quoted in the article:

"We don't usually get that many that come in at this time of year. We've been getting them regularly, and we've been concerned about it," Holcomb said. "They're expensive animals - they eat tons of fish and require a lot of medicine. We'll never shut the door to them, but they don't come in with credit cards."

California brown pelicans are a sub-species that nearly became extinct in the late 1960s’ from DDT and DDE, which caused their eggshells to thin. When they were listed in 1970, only 200-300 breeding pairs remained. Its east coast cousin, the Atlantic brown pelican, was removed from the federal endangered species list in 1985. California and Gulf Coast populations are listed still. The U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service is considering “de-listing” the species throughout its range.

The Brown Pelican’s worldwide population is estimated at 650,000. Biologists believe that of those, 400,000 reside in Peru.

More Adopt a bird info and Donate online info.

IBRRC is a proud member of the Oiled Wildlife Care Network (OWCN) a legislatively mandated program within The California Fish and Game, Office of Spill Prevention and Response (OSPR) which strives to ensure that wildlife exposed to petroleum products in the environment receive the best achievable treatment by providing access to permanent wildlife rehabilitation facilities and trained personnel for oil spill response within California.