Read about the beginning of twice-rehabilitated Brown Pelican N51’s journey and the injuries he overcame after being exposed to a Harmful Algal Bloom in Part I.
Although Brown Pelican N51 was eating great and continuing to normalize the skin at his former wounds, it quickly became obvious that he had zero interest in flying. He could flap competently up to the edge of the pool and navigate the aviary just fine, but he was unwilling to become airborne.
We did radiographs of his whole body, re-examined him extensively, performed bloodwork and more, but we could find nothing physically wrong with him. It was like he had forgotten that flight is a thing he could do.
All the other domoic acid affected pelican patients were making progress towards release, even staying up on the high perch to avoid the dozens of pelican orphans that were hogging the pool. N51 was feisty when handled but would just spend his days lounging on the pool edge. His behavior in the aviary was alert but calmly subdued; he just ate, preened, and perched.
MRI Offers Clues, But Questions Remain
By August, we were wondering whether he could have permanent brain damage from domoic acid, like we have seen before in severely-affected loons whose brains appeared to be literally shriveled like a raisin (vs a plump grape). We started thinking about placing him in a zoo or aquarium since he was physically healthy, gorgeous, and seemed a good candidate to be an ambassador bird. But first, I wanted to see if we could verify that he had brain damage before making that decision.
I put out a request for help arranging for him to have a brain MRI. Veterinary neurologist Dr. Jeremy O’Neill of Metropolitan Animal Specialty Hospital (MASH) in Los Angeles stepped up and offered to do the imaging. We also decided to image a second pelican for comparison purposes since, unlike with dogs and cats, what constitutes a normal MRI for a pelican brain isn’t really known. On August 24, we packed the birds up for a day trip to Hollywood for imaging. The MRI ruled out a shriveled brain but didn’t rule out less obvious brain damage, so we were still left in a holding pattern of not knowing what to do with N51 long-term.
The Urge to Fly Returns
September turned into October, and the adult pelicans started getting their breeding colors, where their eyes change from brown to light blue and their pouch starts to take on the beautiful bright red coloration. This is the time of year California Brown Pelicans start finding mates and building nests out on the Channel Islands or in coastal Mexico. Captive adult pelicans at this time usually get extra antsy and aggressive as they have the urge to GO FLY.
We don’t know whether the onset of breeding hormones did the trick or if it was just the tincture of time allowing more healing, but low and behold N51 suddenly started flying at the end of October. We were all VERY EXCITED.
He was tentative at first but very quickly started flying along with the other adults. Considering how long he had not been flying while being a perch potato, we knew he needed to be well conditioned to survive after release. As plunge-divers, Brown Pelicans have a very athletic lifestyle. He joined the other birds having directed exercise sessions for several weeks before release.
After 240 days in care, having survived life-threatening injuries and a likely domoic acid toxicity-related lack of flight, we are very happy to report that N51 was re-released on December 19 with three other adult pelicans. His 9-year-old leg bands were in good shape, so he got to keep them. He was the first one out of the crate and led his aviary companions off into the foggy afternoon.
We wish N51 a successful third chapter of his wild pelican life. Maybe it isn’t yet too late for him to find a girlfriend and make baby pelicans this year. Please keep your eyes out for N51 cruising the coast in coming years.