Recovery center releases pelicans

On September 11, the Wildlife Center of the North Coast released 22 white pelicans at Vista Park in Skamokawa.

The white pelicans were admitted to the center as starving chicks, unable to fly or feed themselves.

"Human disturbance on the pelicans' nest island, up the Columbia River, is the primary cause for this nest abandonment," center Assistant Director Joshua Saranpaa wrote in a press release.

Campers were spending the week of July 4th on this island, he said. When they got too close to the nesting birds, the parents were flushed and they flew off, and the chicks took refuge in the water. In doing so, the chicks were swept downriver to Astoria, Chinook, and Ilwaco or to ocean beaches. It is estimated that close to 100 chicks were flushed from their nest island, only 30 of which could be captured, Saranpaa said.

"These birds were very difficult to catch," he said. "Some of the pelicans actually took several attempts over a several day period to be caught. By the time they were captured, they were cold, exhausted, and extremely thin. Not all of these pelicans were able to be saved.

However, the majority of these pelicans were successfully rehabilitated. Once they could fly, WCNC released these birds at Vista Park.

"WCNC would like to remind the public that it is very important to respect nesting wildlife," Saranpaa said. "All it takes is one person to walk through a nesting colony to cause a crisis like this. In addition to it being unethical to encroach on a nesting colony, it also violates the Migratory Bird Treaty Act-an international law."

The Migratory Bird Treaty act is an international treaty that protects all migratory birds from harm, harassment, and possession. Under the Migratory Bird Treaty Act it is illegal to disturb nesting birds. Birds only nest once a year, and they are extremely sensitive to disturbance.

The center is the only wildlife hospital on the north Oregon coast. As a non-profit, all volunteer wildlife hospital, WCNC relies on public donations to operate. To make a donation, visit their website at http://www.coastwildlife.org or like them on Facebook.