Boat Strike

Oliver holding the pelican injured from a boat strike.

A boat Strike is the only answer I'm afraid as its impossible for a bird to do this damage to himself. That is actually his bones protruding from the break.

The boatie has had to know he hit the bird so why not stop and help him or at least ring someone at the time as the wind would have been calm at the time. But no, this poor bird drifted around in pain in a howling wind by the time Australian Seabird Rescue received the call. Despite the best efforts of Marine Rescue we were unable to get him straight away as the wind kept blowing the boat just out of our reach.

So back to the harbour at dusk and with the wind easing - thanks to the keen eye of Australian Seabird Rescue team member Oliver, he was spotted way off on the other shore. Thankfully without any further fuss we picked him up and he was euthanized by Greencross Veterinary thus stopping any further pain.

So totally avoidable - I mean really - you've got to know you are approaching a big bird haven't you?

Betty