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