Endangered Pelicans Starving on Orange County Coast

Endangered young Brown Pelicans suffering the effects of starvation are being rescued on Orange County beaches. Volunteers are working overtime to recover ailing birds.

(PRWEB) July 15, 2004 -- (PRWEB) July 15, 2004 -- Young pelicans migrating from Mexican breeding grounds are dieing as they arrive on Orange County beaches. Large numbers of the ailing birds are being rescued from San Onofre to Dana Point. Reports of the ill birds have also surfaced in San Diego. Some are being found as far away as Southern Arizona. Most of the pelicans that we are presently rescuing are young of the year birds, they are suffering from starvation and most have bacterial infections which will worsen their medical condition should they become anorexic" explains Linda McLeod, director of Pacific Wildlife Project," located in Southern Orange County. A similar event occurred once before in 1993 when hundreds of pelicans had to be rescued. About 50 of those birds had been brutalized by competing anglers as fish became scarce.

Causes for this recent event have speculated to be global warming and over fishing to over- population and the polluting of our oceans. Kurt Lieber, president of Ocean Defenders Alliance" attributes the cause, in part, to overuse of the oceans resources. While it is known that the Sea of Cortez, a significant breeding area for pelicans has suffered massive fish shortages, it is not known what impact that die-off has on pelicans. "young birds could be desperate for food and leaving the nesting ground earlier and in greater numbers to find food" adds Lieber "If they are already weak from food scarcity, the migratory trip will have a devastating impact on them as they arrive here". Thus far, agencies have no solid information on the cause.

Sick pelicans are being recovered daily by Rescue Teams from the Pacific Wildlife Project." Their Rescue Teams patrol harbors and beaches searching for pelicans and other ailing seabirds on a year round basis. The volunteer non-profit organization is one of just a few overtaxed rescue effort groups in Southern California. The Award Winning Project, famous for its unprecedented response to the Salton Sea Botulism crisis, specializes in the care of pelicans and other seabirds. They also treat small mammals and all species of land birds.

Rescue Team Volunteers have been working overtime to save the endangered pelicans. According to the groups rescue leader, Julie Tobin, We are exhausted, our people are working all day and into the evening trying to rescue as many as we can of these beautiful creatures." The sick pelicans are stabilized and treated at the projects wildlife rescue center.

The already financially strained organization recently lost their lease space at the City of Irvines animal shelter and is presently looking for a suitable facility. They are requesting assistance with rescues, transport and donations to help pay for medical treatment and food costs. For more information, go to the Projects website at www.pacificwildlife.org . Please call (949) 831-1178 or (949) 440-6247.

Contacts: Press numbers only please
Julie Tobin (714) 322-7701 Rescue team leader
Linda Winkle (949) 292-6188 Volunteer recruiter