A version of this article, writted by Correspondent Cyndi Kight, appeared in the Sunday, March 18, 2007, Virginian-Pilot local insert, the Beacon.

27 rescued brown pelicans are on the mend at VBSPCA

By Cyndi Kight, CORRESPONDENT

PRINCESS ANNE – Soaring and diving into the shallow waters of Tidewater, brown pelicans have a way of delighting people. In Tidewater, they seem to have become as much a part of the summer coastal community as the ubiquitous seagulls.

But it hasn’t always been that way. DDT use in the ’70s caused pelican egg shells to thin and crack under the weight of nesting parents. Populations declined precipitously. The banning of the pesticide encouraged a rebound and, slowly, the birds began to extend their range, traveling from the southernmost portions of the U.S. up the East Coast.

According to ecologist David Brinker (cq) of the Maryland Department of Natural Resources, the first breeding pair was recorded in the Chesapeake Bay in 1987. “In ’91 to ’92, the population just sort of exploded,” Brinker said. “There are over 2,000 pairs that breed in the Chesapeake Bay over the summer now.”

At the onset of colder weather, most pelicans migrate back to Florida and further, following the fish south, explained Sharon Adams (cq), the executive director of the Virginia Beach SPCA. Not all though. Some juveniles stick around, having gotten used to handouts from well-meaning people. “They’re like we are,” Adams pointed out, “they’re going to go the easiest way.”

Essentially, Adams explained, the “buffet” closes when tourists leave and the fish go deep. Some of these one- to three-year old birds become dehydrated and malnourished. In their weakened state, they stop preening or spreading their waterproofing body oils onto each feather. Poor circulation increases the risk of frostbite during late winter dips in the temperature.

One such cold snap at the beginning of February was especially detrimental to pelicans at Lake Rudee, near Shadowlawn Heights. The VBSPCA responded to the call. “We’re not really handwringers. We deal with the moment,” noted Adams wryly. “So, we’re out there flopping around, trying to net pelicans.” In all, 27 juvenile pelicans, in various stages of distress, were recovered by the VBSPCA.

For Gipson, it was a crash course in Pelican 101. Before becoming shelter manager seven years ago, she was a wildlife rehabilitator, specializing in songbirds since 1991.

“It’s been quite a learning experience for me while [the pelicans] have been here,” Gipson stated. Initially, Gipson had to triage the sick, treating frostbite and infection in the necrotic tissue. Some of the birds were distributed to volunteer wildlife rehabbers; seven took up residence in the SPCA’s dog isolation ward.

Bathing and feeding twice a day the pelicans also fell to Gipson. “I’m actually becoming quite a fish expert at this point,” she noted. Five to six pounds of menhaden or “bunker” is their primary daily diet in the wild, though they will eat croaker and herring, too.

Multiplied by the number of birds, Gipson pointed out, “That’s about 150 to 160 pounds per day.” At the beginning, individuals in the community sent money to buy fish and fish markets across Hampton Roads responded with donations. However, Gipson added, “It’s hard to keep that coming.” Even at $1 per pound, buying the needed quantities is a drain to the SPCA’s limited resources, said Gipson.

One commercial fisherman, Les Ghent (cq), has been quietly and steadily providing some of the fish though. “[Pelicans] are one of the neatest birds to watch,” said Ghent, who runs his boat “Just One More” out of Rudee Inlet. “This time of year though, I don’t know of anything they can catch on their own. The shallow waters are barren.”

During the winter, menhaden is usually a “by-catch” of Ghent’s gill nets. He normally freezes them for use as summer crab bait. So, far he has supplied the SPCA with close to 2,000 pounds for the birds and one waterlogged pelican who refused to leave his boat. “Without Les, I don’t know what we would have done,” said Gipson.

Gipson also lauded Dr. Peter Fisher (cq) of Pet Care Veterinary Hospital who surgically repaired a five- to six-inch tear caused by frostbite in one pelican’s pouch. With a tracheal opening at the end of a 1.5-foot long bill, anesthetizing the bird was a challenge. Fisher sedated the bird, and then improvised by administering the gas in a bag wrapped around the head.

Without the surgery, Fisher explained, “He wouldn’t have been able to successfully catch fish down the road.”

Brinker agreed with Adams that people feeding wildlife is not a good idea as it has promoted some of the pelicans’ failure to migrate. However, he offered another viewpoint. “This is survival of the wisest and fittest at work. Death may seem cruel, but often times it is not necessarily bad for the wildlife population as a whole.”

The SPCA’s work and rehabbing is important for the skills developed, Brinker noted, especially when more rare animals are involved. Plus, he said, “People really love pelicans. It’s second nature to pick them up and care for them.”

For Adams, pelican assistance is part of the SPCA’s ongoing mission to create a community of increased compassion. It is also part of searching for a balance between the human population and wild animals, she said.

Currently, Gipson is waiting for approval from the southern region of the U.S. Fish & Wildlife Service to transport the pelicans, a species protected under the Migratory Bird Treaty Act, to a rehabber in Central Florida. Transportation by plane or auto would then have to be decided and arranged.

A final decision, Adams said, is based on the answers to two questions: “Is this effort the right thing to do?” and “Is this the best use of resources?”

Increasingly warmer weather would be a boon, Adams said, though the fish still need to come back. Additionally, Brinker has found that winter-related mortality declines substantially by March.

In the meantime, the pelicans are gaining weight and getting feisty as they recuperate, said Gipson. The SPCA is also looking into signage that could be placed around piers and tourist areas, discouraging people from feeding pelicans. Said Adams: “We can’t do this every winter.”

Want to help? Donations for the pelicans are being accepted. Call 427-0070 or visit www.vbspca.com. The VBSPCA is also offering a new wildlife volunteer orientation on Saturday, March 24, at 11:00 a.m. at their location at 3040 Holland Road.

Cyndi Kight, kightcw@yahoo.com

Click on the picture to enlarge it

Dr. Fisher performs surgery while Lizzie attends. He surgically repaired a five- to six-inch tear caused by frostbite in the pelican’s pouch.