Photos by Dave Weeshoff
During the course of the year, we care for many Brown Pelicans found to be emaciated upon intake. Our first such patient came to International Bird Rescue’s Los Angeles center on 
Sunday via our partners at California Wildlife Center. It’s an adult female captured at Malibu’s Point Mugu, about 70 miles from our L.A. facility.
Currently, the bird is thermoregulating, self feeding and receiving supplemental hydration tubings, rehabilitation technician Kelly Berry reports.
Though this iconic bird of the Pacific Coast was removed from the Endangered Species List nearly five years ago, pelicans routinely need our help for many reasons: emaciation, domoic acid poisoning, fishing tackle injuries and oil contamination are all common problems we see.
Further reading on Brown Pelicans:
• Keeping watch over brown pelicans, International Bird Rescue blog
• Plight of the pelican, Los Angeles Times
