At International Bird Rescue, every bird’s release back into the wild is a victory, but our work doesn’t stop there. Thanks to innovative tracking technology, we can now follow the post-release journeys of Brown Pelicans like never before. Eight former patients are sporting a third leg band in addition to their federal and blue bands: a miniature electronic device purposed to track their whereabouts and aid conservation research.
Led by Deborah Jaques of Pacific Eco Logic, this project is exploring the use of the newly-designed leg bands and the Motus Wildlife Tracking System to understand post-rehabilitation and fledgling dispersal and survival of the California Brown Pelican.
Radio signals embedded in small devices on tagged animals are detected by sensor stations located within about three to 15 kilometers of the animal, and the data are then uploaded and sent to researchers. More information on how the Motus “e-Band” works can be found on OWCN’s website.
The signals from the e-Bands are automated, eliminating the need for a person to spot the bird in person and manually report it. Additionally, signal receivers cover a much larger portion of the California Brown Pelicans’ range than is typically reached through in-person re-sightings, including out in the Channel Islands and several areas in Mexico.
Following proven success on one rehabilitated pelican, 20 more pelicans were tagged and released from July 2023 to September 2024. Other rehabilitated pelicans were provided by Pacific Wildlife Care, Santa Barbara Wildlife Care Network, and Wetlands and Wildlife Care Center.
The e-Band was produced by Cellular Tracking Technologies upon request by Jaques. Primary funding and support for this research has been granted by the OWCN, with contributions from Pelican Science and a growing list of collaborators.
The long-term durability of these bands on pelicans is still unknown. Motus bands also come at a significantly higher cost, around $350 each, compared to approximately $5 for a simple color band. As with many technologies, these costs may decrease over time.
Following the Flight of Brown Pelican H4
Among these birds was Brown Pelican #53107, wearing the blue band “H4”. This patient was admitted to care on February 27, 2024 after being found contaminated with oil in Malibu, CA. Once stable, she was thoroughly washed by staff and a wildlife rehabilitation intern. After 29 days in care, she recovered from burns caused by oil on her left wing and healed from a wound on her left leg. Fully rehabilitated, she returned to the wild on March 28.
Since H4’s release, she has been on the move, detected 54 times from 11 sensor stations ranging from as far south as Santa Cruz Island in Santa Barbara County to as far north as Tom’s Point in Marin County. Most recently, she was detected on November 5 at Elkhorn Slough, CA. She is just one example of the many pelicans thriving in the wild post-release. Thanks to the e-Band, we can confirm her progress and gather valuable data about her survival and movements.
The Importance of Tracking and Understanding Brown Pelican Survival
The main goals of this research project are to study differences in migration and roosting patterns among Brown Pelican groups and individuals, understand how environmental factors impact coastal movements, and assess how pollution, disease, and food availability affect their survival and movements. By tracking these birds, researchers gain critical insights into the challenges pelicans face in a changing world.
Using data collected from the Blue-Banded Brown Pelican Program, Bird Rescue published groundbreaking research in 2023 proving that pelicans can be effectively rehabilitated and reintroduced to the wild, providing hope amidst recurring challenges.
The recent Brown Pelican Crisis echoes previous crises in 2009, 2010, 2012, and 2022 underscoring the urgency of research initiatives like the e-Band project. As rehabilitation centers like Bird Rescue have worked tirelessly to care for injured and starving pelicans, tracking these birds post-release becomes vital for understanding the factors contributing to their challenges.