International Bird Rescue Wednesday at noon will release back into the wild the first Southern California group of rehabilitated Brown Pelicans that were among more than 350 starving or injured seabirds found off California waters since mid-April.
The organization has not confirmed what is causing this crisis in the pelicans' population, and an investigation is ongoing by the California Department of Fish and Wildlife. International Bird Rescue is asking for the public's help in covering the cost associated with the pelicans' care. Donations can be accepted at www.birdrescue.org/savepelicans.
"With these releases, we're sending them home to the ocean healthy and in great condition to fly wherever they need to go," Rebecca Duerr, director of research and veterinary science at Bird Rescue, said in a prepared statement. "Our special banding program will show how they will do in the wild."
Duerr reported that there are still small numbers of pelicans coming into their care, but there are also signs that the birds are successfully foraging again in most locations. She added, "We can't keep them in care forever, and we can't fix what's ailing the ocean."
To find food, pelicans often leave their natural habitat and risk their lives in human-populated areas. Some of the pelicans the organization found were in odd places, including one on the tarmac at Los Angeles International Airport.
Finding birds in unusual and unsafe locations is a clear sign they need help. International Bird Rescue says the public can play a role in reporting these birds to their local animal control or calling their Bird HelpLine at 866-767-2473.
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