Cheeky Baby (Pelican number 810)

Born under a lucky star I'd say! This gorgeous juvenile was flat on the rocks of the Berkeley breakwall - alarm bells! Obviously something wrong.

Out with the kayak and Leonie on the paddle. As the young pelican tried to get away it appeared she had a broken leg and couldn't launch off the water. A couple of very nice young men on a jet ski came to help Leonie and managed to get a net over her - thanks fellas!

But as I said very lucky - 3 trips to the vet which she appeared to enjoy immensely, sticky beaking out the window and sitting on Oliver's lap for over an hour while I was in with Number 809 being operated on. Quite an adventure for a young bird but she didn't think the x-rays were much fun.

Result - ligament damage - hooray! No break. Back into care for a couple of days then released; last seen flapping around getting the human smell off her.

Thanks Leonie for your help - thanks also to Oliver for all the help transporting these birds back and forward to the vet and release.

Betty

Oliver holding "Cheeky Baby" - pelican number 810.

Lucky girl

On my regular sunrise patrol at Berkeley, I noticed a female pelican with a length of line protruding from her beak - 105cm in fact. Fortunately I was able to catch her and a gave quick phone call to Australian Seabird Rescue team member Oliver who lives close by. He came straight down to the harbour and held the bird while I got my hand down into her stomach. It was lucky the hooks had not caught on her stomach wall.

The 2 hooks measured 3cm in length, each with a swivel attached!

Another example of careless fishing -  instead of calling someone for help the fisherman has just cut the line. This little girl would have perished if not spotted and caught with a successful release.

Thanks for your help Oliver.

Betty  

105cm fishing line plus hook found in female pelican at Berkeley

Mr Percival.

This young male presented himself at Mossy Point down south looking very forlorn and badly injured with a large wound to his chest and 2 large hooks, one deep in his leg - he was sure in a lot of trouble. But with a big thanks to Australian Seabird Rescue team member Carmel and her friend Peter, he was picked up and rushed to the vet.

Mr Percival from Mossy Point

Chest wound on Mr Percival.

Moruya vet operated on Mr Percival and we can't thank him enough.

Mr Percival was then transported further south to go into intensive care with team member Penny. This was Penny's first pelican in care and he owes his life to her. With twice daily flushing of the wound and a full time job to go to, Penny certainly was kept busy. She did a fantastic job ensuring Mr Percival didn't get an infection and physio on his feet as well as intensive antibiotics.

Well done Penny. So 14 days later he was released but didn't want to go - he knew he wasn't quite ready. So back home with Penny for 3 more days of TLC.

Happily after convincing him he was a pelican, he as seen swimming with the other birds.

Penny will check on him every day. Quite an experience for a young bird and you Penny should be very proud of yourself. A mighty job well done!

Betty

Pelican Number 804

 You know the saying – "the old grey mare she ain’t what she used to be"

– well thank heavens Leonie is still fit.

We were 1 ½ hours south of Wollongong trying to catch a pelican when a

call came in back at Wollongong about a pelican at the golf course in real

trouble. So we high-tailed it back to find him in a creek right at the

back of the golf course. The greenkeepers thought he’d been shot as half

his wing was mangled – however the exact cause of the wound is still

unknown. Unfortunately he got himself in the water and we couldn’t find

him amongst the lantana and stinging nettles. Yes we both got hurt, and it

was getting dark. So next morning early we went back with the kayak and

nets. Leonie strung one net across the creek south of him and I got the

other net over to the north. With Leonie in the kayak in the bushes, I

clambered down to him where he was on a log to get him to swim towards the

kayak. A quite dangerous situation and with Leonie covered in mud she

grabbed him. The poor thing – a horrific wound – straight to the vet

where unfortunately he was euthanized. We are still shaking our heads as

to how and why this poor bird had to suffer so much!

We sure need some young blood in our group though as these 2 old girls are

wearing out!

Betty           

Kiama Casualty

A late night call to Australian Seabird Rescue from a resident out with her family who spotted this female pelican with something wrong with her neck - sure was!

We headed down in daylight and caught her straight away. She presented with a deep wound to her neck just starting to become infected. So off to the vet for assessment then back later that day for an operation. A big thank you to vet ""Than" of Canon & ball and an hour later she was in care with lots of stitches.

So a course of antibiotics and some TLC (even though she was a very cranky patient) she is now back out where she belongs.

Sadly it's the same old story - hook injury! But perhaps if we keep reminding people about safe fishing, it might sink in.

Betty

Oliver holding the pelican with the neck injury found in Kiama.