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Wildlife Rehabilitators Association of Rhode Island
Two pelicans taken care of by the Wildlife Rehabilitators Association of Rhode Island hang out in a camping tent before being flown to Florida.
Two brown pelicans blown to Rhode Island by the winds of Hurricane Sandy were flying back Saturday to their natural habitat in Florida -- via a private plane.
The first of the large birds, whose wingspans measure 6 to 7 feet, was found on the side of a road at Fishermen's Memorial State Park on Nov. 7, nine days after the storm made landfall in New Jersey, said Jennifer Brooks, clinic director at the Wildlife Rehabilitators Association of Rhode Island.
The bird, a juvenile likely from a nest in North Carolina, had been tagged by the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service, and records showed it was presumed to have died, she said.
The second pelican landed on a fishing boat about 120 miles south of Block Island the following day, she said. The crew of the boat, which provides fish to SeaWorld theme parks, fed the bird for several days before docking.
"They were a little bit thin, they were a little beat up from the storm," Brooks said of the birds. They had lost tail feathers and suffered scratches to their throat pouches, which are prone to frostbite in northern climates, Brooks said.
Animal workers had been keeping the birds in an outdoor shelter before moving them into a camping tent inside the clinic.
On Saturday, they were flown in containers similar to dog crates to the Mary Keller Seabird Rehabilitation Sanctuary in Florida, she said.
The cost of the flight -- about $2,000 -- was covered by public donations, Brooks said.
Brown pelicans typically fly as far north as North Carolina during the summer to form breeding colonies before flying south for the winter, Brooks said.
Birds naturally are blown northward by storms, but "it's unusual for us to have pelicans," she said.
"They do get pushed by these northward storms, so that's what happened to these guys," she said. "They should have been going south."
Reuters contributed to this report.
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These are my favorite bird. There grace full in flight and comical landing on a seagull infested pylons
and unlike seagulls there a true seabird you do not find them a dumps and tourist traps like bush gardens.In tarpon springs they show up around 1600 hrs waiting for the Twogeorges a charter fishing boat to pull in. Outside of Ceder key their are white pelicans that hunt different than the diving brown ones .
The white ones herd their food and are much larger than the brown ones . Both are neat but the brown ones are my favorite to watch.
I live on Galveston Bay and we have hundreds. They are interesting to watch when they dive from a height into the water to catch fish. They were put on the Texas endangered list about 30-40 years ago, and have made a full recovery.
The white pelicans are also interesting to watch. They paddle along in groups and dip their beaks under water to catch fish, often in unison.
When I was a child my mother would point at a pelican, and recite a limerick:
"A wonderful bird is the Pelican.
His beak can hold more than his belly can.
He can hold in his beak
Enough food for a week!
But I'll be darned if I know how the heckican."
Last week I gave a racoon a ride to a barn outside of town and just this morning helped a squirrel bury his nuts. nuts.
Wonderful to hear that the cost of the flight was covered by donations. Great job!
nice post, retired and nice to read some happy ending news.
pelicans are quite amazing and if you can find one not shy of humans, they enjoy a gentle scratching, same as many other animals. have never touched anything so wonderfully soft as a pelican.
tarpon is a great place. was just up there for dinner a couple of weeks ago.
They sure don't taste like chicken, more like my ex-girlfriend
They have started moving pretty far inland to some freshwater lakes here in Northern California, I fish alot and these guys have to be some of clumsiest most awkward birds I've ever seen. I've seen them try to land on a dock, faceplant, then roll into the water. I've seen them get in fights where they get their opponents entire head inside their beak and you see the head going nuts pushing around inside the big skin flap they have. I've heard other fisherman say that some can be real territorial, where they'll land on your boat and then try to chase you off it. Just plain hilarity with wings.
In recent years, the brown peligans visit the Ocean County, New Jersey Shore Area during the summer/fall months. The Peligans enjoy the abundant baitfish in the ocean and bays. My guess is that hung around a little too long and were caught by Hurricane Sandy.
Being from Jersey I don't get to see any pelicans up this way. When my wife and I make our annual migration to Fla in May every year there are pelicans galore.
They are really cool. I like hanging at the marinas when the charter boats come in. The pelicans know when they're in too, they're not bashful at all for a free handout.
Ocean County is way south of me, I live NE Jersey.
During recent years, the Brown Peligans have visited the Ocean County, New Jersey Shore area during the summer/fall months. The Peligans enjoy the many baitfish that are available. My guess is that these Peligans hung around a little too long and were caught by Hurricane Sandy.
For such an ungainly looking bird they are truly beautiful flyers. Very graceful in the air with long wingspans. It's fun to watch them flying just above the water in ground effect making it all look easy. It's great these two could get an assist back home.
The cheapest flight I could find via private jet from Jersey to Florida was $10,907.00. This does not include fuel surcharges and other fees. THEY HAVE THEIR OWN WINGS!. Let them fly back if they want. Ten grand given to the Red Cross will help quite a few HUMANS in New Jersey. Pelicans are not exactly endangered. I take a 12-gauge to both of them before wasting all that money and man-power on a couple of birds...
Your post is just your opinion based on your values. Everybody's values are equal. Here's mine:
You're a vile and disgusting example of our species.
Since you are such a curmudgeon, the charter company added $8,500 to put up with your BS.
Wow...how sad are you!
You're a mean one, Mr. Grinch.
Get over it- you unfortunately haven't a clue about life anyway and are a sorry sad person with depression.
See someone for your problems.
You're pathetic, these 2 birds are worth more then you. Call Obama if you have a complaint.
Sounds like you have a cobb up your butt for some reason, pass it and move on.
"The cost of the flight -- about $2,000 -- was covered by public donations, Brooks said."
Oh, the joys of reading! It seems enough compassionate people wanted the birds to have a fighting chance even without your support. I don't know about you, but my mother taught me that "if you can't say anything nice, you shouldn't say anything at all." The best I can hope for is that you are simply trolling for attention, and can someday find a more constructive and appropriate outlet for your frustrations.
Solid Ground got everybody's goat, which is what he intended. He's a troll. Don't feed the troll.
Lol, I don't think he's trolling, I think that is the way he really feels. Is it THAT outrageous to think that it is a waste of resources to do this for these birds?
Yes
P.S. that tent could be used for a HUMAN family since 10's of thousands of HUMANS kinda lost their entire home.
Oh give me a break with your post! The Red Cross is useless,since they pocket the money to pay their executives! I'll donate to the Pelicans,and I'll give both the Pelicans and A Human Family who lost their home a tent! Better still I'll give the family a trailer to stay in till they can get back on their feet!
I'm glad they did what they did for those birds! GOOD FOR THEM! I LOVE PELICANS AND PEOPLE!
Oh yeah and take your shot gun and put it back in the closet,before you blow your toe off!
kinda lost their entire home??
Some years ago I heard of the Red Cross having a photo op showing it handing out donuts to victims and taking the donuts back after the shot. I believe I saw a video of it, but cannot swear.
Gil, you heard that from an idiot, and you're an idiot yourself if you believe it. What possible reason could they have for doing that? A photo op? Are you on drugs?
What the hell happened to some of you people to make you so stupid?
So great these 2 were saved...I so love them and love to watch them.
Solid ground..you sound sad and bitter...I wish you peace. JA
pelicans rule
Ever been to sea pelican?
ever been on see-saw?
love seeing stories like this. we need a diversion now and then. od, Back On Solid Ground....ya sure your ground is solid?
fhhhhhhhhhhhhhcbbbvvvvvvvvvvvvvvvvvvvvvnhgjhggggggggggggggggnm
Wow, interesting how humans pick certain animals to bestow human rights onto. Cats, dogs, pelicans, [I guess] any others?
I recall a tv news story a few years back about a fellow in an Asian country who's job it was to cook cats. He grabbed the cat by the head with tongs, dipped it in boiling oil [made the skin come off easier] then skinned it and threw it back in the oil to cook all while the cat was STILL ALIVE. It was rather shocking to me, being a native North American who is used to cats and dogs being treated like, well, like 4 legged people. What was interesting was the nonchalant way he performed his job, he had no guilt or shame about it, in fact, he seemed rather bewildered by the cameras and all the interest taken in his mundane job of cooking cats.
I really don't think Solid Ground was trolling for a reaction when he said he'd rather shoot the birds than waste resources on them the way they did. I think that is the way he really feels. Like it or not, other animals are our food, and anyone who thinks that the time and money spent, and the fossil fuel burned to give these birds a ride, is completely justified, should maybe take a hard look at their own priorities.
Hey Leroy, we are humans bestowed with brains....errr, or most of us are anyway. If people can use their brains and take the time and effort and yes, money to help a few wayward birds, whats the big deal. Seems to me its you who needs to take a hard look at your priorities. It seems life has made you a bitter old man. I commend those who wanted to help rather than walk by and ignore their suffering as you suggest they should have done. You've got some issues, bud.
Back in 94 , i transported some endangered Hawaiian monk seals via a buoy tender , that was tax payers money this not.
http://www.zombiepodcast.com/forum/showwiki.php?title=Pelican