(Hartford, Conn./WTIC) - A brown pelican that was spotted in distress this week at a marina in Essex is headed south.
The state Department of Energy and Environmental Protection says the bird, not native to these parts, is continuing its rehabilitation at A Place Called Hope in Killingworth.
It will then be transported to the Busch Wildlife Sancturary in Jupiter, Florida.
The sancturary specializes in pelican rehabilitaion.
A pair of DEEP officers were able to free the bird which was found in distress on Wednesday.
The pelican's wings were badly bruised, it was hypothermic and lethargic when found.
The brown pelican Is typically found in the U.S. southern coasts.
The thinking is a storm may have carried it up here or it may have stowed away on a boat because someone was feeding it.