Published Scientific Papers - International Bird Rescue

Published Research Papers

Long-Term Success of Rehabilitated California Brown Pelicans Thriving Post-Release

A new scientific research paper by International Bird Rescue points to a significant success in the rehabilitation of starving or even severely injured California Brown Pelicans. The published paper proves that these seabirds can be effectively rehabilitated and reintroduced to the wild, with some even surpassing previously estimated lifespans for the species. This is particularly encouraging news for the pelicans recently released following the Brown Pelican crisis.

The research paper, published in the journal Marine Ornithology in 2023, was authored by Bird Rescue’s Director of Medical Research and Veterinary Science Dr. Rebecca Duerr, Deborah Jacques of Pacific EcoLogic, Bart Selby, a San Francisco Peninsula naturalist and a prolific observer of and advocate for Brown Pelicans, Bird Rescue Director of Operations Julie Skoglund, and Bird Rescue Projects Specialist Suzanne Kosina.

The study focused on the overall survival duration of 1,418 Brown Pelicans rehabilitated between 2009 and2019 who were released with numbered blue leg bands for easy identification along with their federal bands. It also evaluated how specific conditions, injuries, or medical issues during their care impact their survival after release.

More Bird Rescue Published Research Papers:

Esperanza CW, RC Quock, RS Duerr, SW Roy, RNM Sehgal. 2024. Comparative gene expression responses to Babesia infection and oil contamination in a seabird. Frontiers in Conservation Science v. 5. https://doi.org/10.3389/fcosc.2024.1425484

Kelley CN, TR Kelly, K Clatterbuck, MC Knapp, J Skoglund, RS Duerr. 2024. Comparison of manual restraint with and without sedation on outcomes for wild birds undergoing decontamination. Journal of Avian Medicine and Surgery 38(2): 67-74. https://doi.org/10.1647/AVIANMS-D-23-00030

Duerr RS, Jaques DH, Selby BG, Skoglund JS, and S Kosina. (2023). Medical history and post-release survival of rehabilitated California Brown Pelicans Pelecanus occidentalis californicus, 2009–2019. Marine Ornithology 51: 157–168. http://www.marineornithology.org/PDF/51_2/51_2_157-168.pdf

Duerr RS, Gibble CM, Perry H, Rogers K, and L Henkel. 2023. Summary of an unusual stranding event affecting California Brown Pelicans in Southern California during May-July, 2022. Unpublished report prepared for U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service, Ventura Field Office, by International Bird Rescue, Fairfield, CA. 34 pp. DOI:10.13140/RG.2.2.34837.50402

Horgan MD, Duerr RS. 2021. Gross pathology of herons and egrets (family Ardeidae) at a wildlife rehabilitation centre in Northern California. Wildlife Rehabilitation Bulletin 37(1): 29-41. DOI: 10.53607/wrb.v37.126

Horgan MD, Duerr RS, and B Murphy. 2020. Clinical and pathologic findings of an outbreak of vitamin D3–responsive metabolic bone disease in heron and egret (family Ardeidae) chicks fed capelin (Mallotus villosus). Journal of Zoo and Wildlife Medicine 51(4): 958-969. https://doi.org/10.1638/2019-0238

Bamac OE, Rogers KH, Arranz-Solís D, Saeij JPJ, Lewis L, Duerr RS, Skoglund J, Peronne L, Mete A. 2020.Protozoal encephalitis associated with Sarcocystis calchasi and S. falcatula during an epizootic involving Brandt’s cormorants (Phalacrocorax penicillatus) in coastal Southern California, USA. International Journal for Parasitology: Parasites and Wildlife 12: 185-191. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.ijppaw.2020.06.005

Horgan MD, Siksay SE, Knych HK, Duerr RS. 2020. Pharmacokinetics of a single dose of oral meloxicam in Brown Pelicans (Pelecanus occidentalis). Journal of Avian Medicine and Surgery: Journal of Avian Medicine and Surgery, 34(4): 329-337. https://bioone.org/journals/journal-of-avian-medicine-and-surgery/volume-34/issue-4/1082-6742-34.4.329/Pharmacokinetics-of-a-Single-Dose-of-Oral-Meloxicam-in-Rehabilitated/10.1647/1082-6742-34.4.329.short

Piatt JF, Parrish JK, Renner HM, Schoen SK, Jones TT, Arimitsu ML, Kuletz KJ, Bodenstein B, García-Reyes M, Duerr RS, Corcoran RM, Kaler RSA, McChesney GJ, Golightly RT, Coletti HA, Suryan RM, Burgess HK, Lindsey J, Lindquist K, Warzybok PM, Jahncke J, Roletto J, Sydeman WJ. 2020. Extreme mortality and reproductive failure of Common Murres resulting from the northeast Pacific marine heatwave of 2014-2016. PLoS ONE 15(1): e0226087. https://doi.org/10.1371/journal.pone.0226087

Skoglund JM, Duerr RS, Collins, C. 2020. Survival and recruitment of rehabilitated Caspian Terns in southern California. Bulletin of the Southern California Academy of Sciences 119(1): 1-5. Available at: https://scholar.oxy.edu/handle/20.500.12711/10544

Duerr RS. 2018. Successful surgical management of pouch and bill injuries in pelicans. Pp. 363-367 in Proceedings of the Association of Avian Veterinarians annual conference at ExoticsCon, Sept. 22-27, 2018, Atlanta, GA.

Gibble C, Duerr R, Bodenstein B, Lindquist K, Lindsey J, Beck J, Henkel L, Roletto J, Harvey J, and R Kudela. 2018. Investigation of a largescale Common Murre (Uria aalge) mortality event in California in 2015. Journal of Wildlife Diseases 54(3):569-574. https://doi.org/10.7589/2017-07-179

Duerr RS and KC Klasing. 2017. Effects of added lipids on digestibility and nitrogen balance in oiled Common Murres (Uria aalge) and Western Grebes (Aechmophorus occidentalis) fed four formulations of a critical care diet. Journal of Avian Medicine and Surgery 31(2): 132-141.

Duerr RS. 2016. Surgical repair of keel lesions and lacerations in aquatic birds. Pp. 83-88 in Proceedings of the Association of Avian Veterinarians annual conference at ExoticsCon, Aug. 27-Sept. 1, 2016, Portland OR.

Duerr RS, Ziccardi MH, and JG Massey. 2016. Investigation into mortalities during treatment: Factors affecting oiled Common Murre (Uria aalge) survival to release through rehabilitation. Journal of Wildlife Diseases 52(3): 495-505. https://doi.org/10.7589/2015-03-054

Duerr RS and KC Klasing. 2015. Tissue component and organ mass changes associated with declines in body mass in three seabird species received for rehabilitation in California. Marine Ornithology. 43(1): 11-18. http://marineornithology.org/PDF/43_1/43_1_11-18.pdf

Gaynor AS, Fish S, Duerr RS, Dela Cruz Jr. FN, and P Pesavento. 2015. Identification of a novel papillomavirus in a Northern Fulmar (Fulmarus glacialis) with viral production in cartilage. Veterinary Pathology 52(3):553-61. https://doi.org/10.1177/0300985814542812

Li L, Pesavento PA, Gaynor AM, Duerr RS, Phan TG, Zhang W, Deng X, and E Delwart. 2015. A gyrovirus infecting a sea bird. Archives of Virology. 160(8): 2105-9. https://dx.doi.org/10.1007/s00705-015-2468-1

Humple D.L. and Holcomb J. 2014. Winter movements of Western Grebes and Clark’s Grebes: Insight from band recoveries. North American Bird Bander 39(1): 21-28. For full text click here

Duerr RS. 2013. Investigation into the Nutritional Condition and Digestive Capabilities of Seabirds during Rehabilitation in California. PhD Dissertation. University of California, Davis. 119 pp.

Ruoppolo V., E.J. Woehler, K Morgan, and C.J. Clumpner. 2012. Wildlife and Oil in the Antarctic: a recipe for cold disaster. Polar Record 48:1-13.

Duerr RS, Massey JG, Ziccardi MH, and YN Addassi. 2011. Physical effects of Prudhoe Bay crude oil water accommodated fractions (WAF) and Corexit 9500 chemically enhanced water accommodated fractions (CEWAF) on Common Murre feathers and California sea otter hair. California Dept. of Fish and Wildlife, Scientific Study and Evaluation Program, Report 2007-01. 12 pp.

Phillips EM, Zamon JE, Nevins HM, Gibble C, Duerr RS, and L Kerr. 2011. Summary of birds killed by a harmful algal bloom along south Washington and north Oregon coasts during October 2009. Northwestern Naturalist 92(2):120-126. https://doi.org/10.1898/10-32.1

Nevins H., M. Miller, L. Henkel, D. Jessup, N. Carion, C. Meteyer, K. Schuler, J. St. Leger, L. Woods, Skoglund J. and D. Jaques. 2011. Summary of unusual stranding events affecting Brown Pelican along the US Pacific Coast during two winters, 2008-09 and 2009-10. Final Report, Marine Wildlife Veterinary Care and Research Center, Santa Cruz, CA.30 pp. For full text go here

Phillips E.M., J.E. Zamon, H.M. Nevins, C. Gibble, R. Duerr, and L. Kerr. 2011. Summary of birds killed by a harmful algal bloom along south Washington and north Oregon coasts during October 2009. Northwestern Naturalist 92(2):120-126. For full text go here

Holcomb J. Overview of bird search and rescue, response efforts during the 1989 Exxon Valdez oil spill. International Oil Spill Conference Proceedings: March 1991, Vol. 1991, No. 1, pp. 225-228. For full text go here

Other papers of interest:

Henkel LA, Ziccardi MH. 2018. Life and death: How should we respond to oiled wildlife? Journal of Fish and Wildlife Management 9(1):296-301; e1944-687X. doi:10.3996/062017-JFWM-054. https://fwspubs.org/doi/full/10.3996/062017-JFWM-054

Newman, SH, RT Golightly, EN Craig, HR Carter and C Kreuder. 2004. The effects of petroleum exposure and rehabilitation on post-release survival, behavior and blood indices: A Common Murre (Uria aalge) case study following the Stuyvesant petroleum spill. Final Report. Oiled Wildlife Care Network, Wildlife Health Center, School of Veterinary Medicine, University of California, 1 Shields Ave, Davis CA 95616. 46 pp. Read full report