Aquatic bird specialists, International Bird Rescue Research Center (IBRRC) is noticing a trend in California Brown Pelicans along the coastline from Monterey to San Diego and they need your help.
An unusual number of birds are coming in thin and disoriented – being found on roads and in fields. What is remarkable is that many are adult pelicans. Often this behavior is associated with domoic acid from a marine algae but so far the birds exhibit no other typical neurological disorders. The center now has 40 in care; ten pelicans came in in the last few days.
IBRRC is asking for your help in reporting ailing pelicans to your local rescue organization or by calling the toll-free California Wildlife Hotline 866-WILD-911. You are encouraged to leave information on dead pelicans there as well by pressing option 2.
How to help
Both of IBRRC’s facilities are in need of assistance in transporting pelicans from other centers and with the care of the high number of birds in treatment. There’s dire need for funds to offset the cost of caring for these huge birds – their adopt a pelican program is a unique way to help while being personally involved in a pelican’s care and release. Adopt-a-pelican
To help, please send inquiries to info@ibrrc.org or call the Fairfield facility at (707) 207-0380 Ext 110 or the San Pedro center at (310) 514-2573.
Kudos to the Daily Breeze newspaper in Southern California for the pelican story Swooping in for birds in need: Pelicans overload rescue center in San Pedro. The article captures perfectly the increase in sick and hungry brown pelicans coming into the San Pedro bird center.
Jay Holcomb, IBRRC’s Executive Director was quoted in the article:
“We don’t usually get that many that come in at this time of year. We’ve been getting them regularly, and we’ve been concerned about it,” Holcomb said. “They’re expensive animals – they eat tons of fish and require a lot of medicine. We’ll never shut the door to them, but they don’t come in with credit cards.”
More Adopt a bird info and Donate online info.
