The call came in.  December 26.

“Wounded White Pelican on Rte. 24.”

by Maureen Magee, Cedar Keys Audubon

Doug Maple and I arrived minutes later with gloves, a net if needed, and a super large carrier.  White Pelicans are much bigger than our common Brown Pelicans.  Much Bigger!

With help from Sharon Kay, who had made the rescue call, Doug and I loaded up the injured bird; and after an initial exam for hooks and lesions, sent him to the Nature World Wildlife Sanctuary in Homosassa.

After weeks of rehab, including surgical staples for wounds, Mary Opall and her team at the sanctuary deemed this lucky bird was ready to reenter the island environment of the Cedar Keys.

With the help of Suzanna Mickey of the UF Marine Animal Rescue Team, and Paul Shearer, rescuer in Inglis, the healthy and strong pelican made the trip back to Cedar Key for release.

Unlike Brown Pelicans, who easily fish on their own by diving into the water, White Pelicans usually fish in groups, coordinating with one another to herd the fish and then scoop them up in an orchestrated dip.  Because of the coordinated method of fishing, this pelican needed to be released to an area where he could easily join an existing group.

The word went out to Audubon Members and friends: Please keep a lookout for groups of white pelicans. We then received wonderful information that enabled us to know where the local groups were fishing and resting.  Thanks to all those who responded with their sightings.

And of course, Doug Maple, our own local bird expert, had an excellent idea of exactly where a large group of these birds might be.

Doug pulled his boat up to the Marina; we loaded the large carrier with the seventeen-pound bird inside, and headed out to the smaller islands.

Doug spotted a sand bar with White Pelicans shoulder to shoulder (or wing to wing).  Quieting the engine, Doug let the boat drift closer, then anchored.  We faced the carrier toward the sand bar so that our captive could have a chance to orient himself before being released.

Doug then placed him on the bow of the boat, and we sat back to give this gorgeous pelican time to think about his next move.  A test of the wings, a long look toward the island, and then he was off! 

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