Over 40 young Brown Pelicans have been admitted with starvation concerns to International Bird Rescue in the last few weeks – most at the Los Angeles Wildlife Center, with a few arriving at the Northern California facility.
The birds are struggling to find fish and are turning up in unusual and dangerous places inland from the coast. Rescues have come from parking lots, backyards, Los Angeles International Airport (LAX), and even a tattoo shop. Their stranding locations are a clear sign they need help.
These birds are fledglings from this year, recently departed from their colonies offshore. Many are very young birds, not fully grown, and do not seem to understand how to feed themselves. It is unusual for us to receive such a high volume of chicks that are this young.
Our dedicated staff and volunteers are working tirelessly to rehabilitate each bird, providing critical food and medical care. This surge is unfolding amid an already intense season: we’re simultaneously treating birds suffering from domoic acid poisoning, raising Double-crested Cormorant chicks and eggs, and preparing for the peak of baby bird season.
Your support today can help us meet this growing need. Your donations help supply fish, medication, and treatment needed for these pelicans to regain their strength and return to the wild.
Is Domoic Acid Leaving Chicks to Fend Alone?
While Brown Pelicans are in the midst of breeding season, the timing of the harmful algal bloom and its effect on adult birds could leave their chicks to fend for themselves far too soon. Among the birds recovering from domoic acid is blue-banded pelican N33, a former patient from 2016. She was found again this week appearing lethargic and uncoordinated in Dana Point Harbor before she was brought to Wetlands and Wildlife Care Center and transferred to Bird Rescue.
“If N33 had chicks this year, she may have not been able to return to her nest due to becoming poisoned by domoic acid while out fishing for dinner,” said Dr. Rebecca Duerr, Director of Research and Veterinary Science at Bird Rescue. “Her chicks would have had to take their chances by leaving their nest early if they were able or staying to wait and starve. I suspect the harmful algal bloom is leaving some chicks without parents a few weeks prematurely.”
Blue-banded Brown Pelican re-sighting data that dates back to 2009 has proved that former patients have excellent survival after release, including young birds. Some former fledgling patients from 2010 are still being re-sighted going about their lives as adults.
A Troubling Trend for Brown Pelicans
Unfortunately, starvation events like this are no longer rare. Last spring and summer, we admitted nearly 425 starving and injured Brown Pelicans to Bird Rescue. And in 2022, that number was 390 pelicans. A high proportion of birds from both events have been re-sighted doing well after their second chances.
These repeated crises raise serious concerns about ecosystem health and the availability of food resources along the coast. Regardless of the cause or the crisis, Bird Rescue is committed to giving wild birds a fighting chance to survive our rapidly changing world. Your support makes it possible.
If you have found a pelican in need, the public is urged to contact local animal control or seek advice from Bird Rescue’s volunteer-staffed Bird HelpLine at 866-SOS-BIRD (866-767-2473).