Part II: Investigating Brown Pelican N51’s Reluctance to Fly
Although 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.
Vet Files
Part I: The Saga of Blue-Banded Brown Pelican N51
Not many birds get a third chance at life, but N51, a twice-rehabilitated California Brown Pelican, is living proof of resilience in the face of repeated challenges.
Saving Severely Injured Brown Pelicans in Crisis
During the spring 2024 Brown Pelican stranding event, seabirds in crisis responded to food scarcity and took extra risks. This resulted in big intake numbers of injured pelicans needing additional care.
Part Two: Setting the Bill Straight
When Dr. Rebecca Duerr saw the radiographs of the Brown Pelican’s bill, she was not entirely sure she could repair her damaged mouth but looked forward to giving it a good solid try.
Pelican’s Second Chance at Flight
I recently had the pleasure of releasing a Brown Pelican that was with us for 130 days! Brown Pelicans are amazing healers, so we often go the extra mile to help, even when the odds are against them.
Some Notable Brown Pelican Cases From The 2022 Mass Stranding Event
Starving pelicans arrived into care with fractured bones and severe injuries received immediate treatment, but birds with non-life-threatening minor and moderate wounds had to wait their turn. Dr Rebecca Duerr explains how they were treated.
A Feisty Cackling Goose That Lived To See Another Day
In wildlife rehabilitation, we often run up against the reality of ‘nature, red in tooth and claw’ in our work. We totally get that many wild animals survive by eating other wild animals, and predators need to eat just as much as the animals they prey upon. However, sometimes the prey animal fights its way … Read more
Brown Pelican’s Enormous Pouch Laceration Repaired
VIDEO UPDATE: After a month in care this Brown Pelican was released back to the wild! Remember Pink the Pelican back several years ago and its horrible pouch laceration? Another Brown Pelican patient has suffered an even worse sliced pouch. On August 30, 2020, a mature adult female Brown Pelican was found near the Ventura … Read more
Success Stories: White Pelican Back In The Wild After Months in Care
After 143 days in care this resilient American White Pelican is back in the wild. This huge bird came into care in September 2019 and it was finally released last week. He was originally found in Santa Rosa, CA with a smelly, infected, open fracture of the wingtip. It was treated at our San Francisco … Read more
Innovative Wound Treatment Leads to Clark’s Grebe Release after 105 Days!
A Clark’s Grebe that was found oiled in Goleta and transferred down to our Los Angeles Wildlife Center for care presented an interesting challenge for treatment. Although he was only lightly oiled, due to being stranded, cold, starving, and burned by the oil, he had dead skin on both of his hocks that had adhered … Read more