Sometimes it requires the patience of Job to catch an injured pelican!

Here is a story from Betty about a rescue her and Leonie undertook on the Sunday.

Ever heard of the patience of Job? Ever wondered who Job is? I have the answer - Leonie.

Leonie and I responded to a call for a female pelican with a hook in her chest on 23rd October, at Gerringong, South Coast, NSW.

After failing to get much interest on the boat ramp from the birds, we pretended we also were not interested and just hung around. In the meantime some fellas came back in their boat with a couple of fish to clean. So off went Leonie and set up her noose to the side of the boat ramp. I threw all our fish and the fellas threw bits of theirs -  they did get a bit confused about which bird they were aiming for and almost hit Leonie with a lovely chunk of fish! Well the stubborn little girl with the hook just stood on the rock and missed out on all the good bits. The other birds had their fill and were just standing around preening or wandered back to the water. With just a few scrappy bits left on the sand it was on! Leonie on the boat ramp pretending not to look and the little girl staring her down. Who was going to give in first?

I just lent on the cleaning table ready to pick her up if caught. Finally after about 1/2 hour and a crowd of about 12 gathered, the little girl broke and walked into the noose - CAUGHT! In 10 minutes the hook was removed from her chest, the wound flushed with antiseptic and the line untangled around her foot. She was carried back to the water's edge and released with a cheer from the crowd.

With a lot of patience, a great result and good PR, as we handed out a dozen of our contact cards. A local lady was so impressed she has offered to check on the birds to see if they are still there as it takes Australian Seabird Rescue South Coast 1/2 hour to get from "home base" to Gerringong. She would've been in real trouble with the line tangled around her foot and attached to the hook in her chest.

Good on you Leonie! A great result for rescue Number 711 and thanks to the Fishos with a sense of humour.

Leonie waiting very patiently for the hooked pelican to step into the noose.

The pelican has a hook in her chest and fishing line tangled around her foot.

Pelican number 711 is successfully treated and released.