IBRRC: Pelicans battered by severe storms in California

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February 22, 2010

What's harming the Pelicans?

Wet, sick Brown Pelicans overwhelm California bird rescue centers

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No vacancy: Pelicans recuperate at IBRRC.

The International Bird Rescue Research Center (IBRRC) has admitted a staggering 435 wet and sick California Brown Pelicans since January 1, 2010.

The good news is that more than 200 pelicans have been released back into the wild. (see chart)

At our Los Angeles bird center, 101 live pelicans currently are in care. The San Francisco Bay center has approximately 20.

Wet, sick and dying pelicans have been flooding into IBRRC bird centers following the heavy rains, flooding and pollution from run-off that hit the California coast in early January 2010. As seabird specialists, IBRRC is doing its best to treat as many of these sick, cold and wet wildlife casualties at both of its California seabird rescue clinics.

At both centers more than a 1,000 pounds of fish a day (at $1 a pound) was being fed to hungry pelicans. The bird rescue group is still asking for the public's help to fund this rescue. Read our urgent appeal

"In all my 40 plus years as a wildlife rehabilitator I have never experienced a die off at this magnitude that is hitting so many mature, adult birds," says Jay Holcomb, IBRRC's Executive Director.

Brown Pelicans treated since Jan. 1, 2010*
Bird Center	Treated	Released	Died	In-house
San Pedro	325	137	87	101
Fairfield	142	86	18	37
Totals	467	223	105	138
*Approximate totals as of Feb. 19, 2010 from IBRRC bird centers.

Because of the overwhelming influx of birds, four wildlife rescue centers in California have written to State and Federal authorities to request their urgent attention and support in dealing with an unprecedented number of wet, starving adult Brown Pelicans being recovered from the Central and Southern California coastlines. With wildlife groups shouldering the cost of care, some are concerned that they may have to temporarily close their doors in order to cope. Read the complete Press Release (PDF)

Thanks to our amazing volunteers we are managing to keep our heads above water, although the high numbers of birds are resulting in long hours, which always take their toll on everyone.

A series of strong winter storms battering the California coast has had a severe impact on local populations of the Brown Pelicans. The birds have been affected by the bad weather but also by the oil, grease and other contaminants washing into the ocean as a result of storm water run-off. Suffering from hypothermia, the lucky ones are being brought to the IBRRC's bird centers in San Pedro, near Los Angeles Harbor and the Fairfield/Cordelia center in the San Francisco Bay Area.

“Seabird feathers provide a natural barrier to water, as well as insulation from the cold” says IBRRC Director, Jay Holcomb. “These pelicans are getting cold and wet because the water quality is so poor right now and these added contaminants are preventing the feathers from doing their job.”

See IBRRC Video: Why Pelicans Could Not Weather January 2010 Storms

Bitten by a seal and battered by storms, a Brown Pelican recuperates at our San Pedro bird center. (IBRRC photo)

“As well as coping with the storms, many of the pelicans we have received have seal bite injuries, a result of feeding frenzies due to commercial and public fishing. These injuries make it even more difficult for the birds to cope with the severe weather conditions out there this week.”

Along other areas of the west coast a similar story is playing out. Near Astoria, Oregon hundreds of brown pelicans have been found dead, starving or begging for food as the LA Times reports: Brown pelicans struggling to survive

IBRRC continues to ask for donations to help support the care of the affected birds. To help save pelicans please go to Adopt-a-Pelican or Donate online now.

If members of the public come across sick or injured seabirds they should call International Bird Rescue Research Center at (310) 514-2573.


Pelicans rest after being beaten up by severe storms in Southern California. (IBRRC photo)

IBRRC is a proud member of the Oiled Wildlife Care Network (OWCN) a legislatively mandated program within The California Fish and Game, Office of Spill Prevention and Response (OSPR) which strives to ensure that wildlife exposed to petroleum products in the environment receive the best achievable treatment by providing access to permanent wildlife rehabilitation facilities and trained personnel for oil spill response within California.