Desperate pelicans make desperate moves

CHERRIL DOTY

They pulled their legs in against their bodies and retracted their

heads. Then, slowly extending their necks, they began a steep dive

headfirst into the shimmering light below. They plunged straight to

the ground.

On July 8, it was reported that at least eight Brown Pelicans were

rescued from area streets around Tucson, Ariz. All together, dozens

suffered broken bones and other injuries when they hit the pavement.

It was surmised by officials that they had mistaken the rippling

mirages created by the action of hot air refracting the bluish sky.

They assumed they were water. These were all young pelicans. It was

supposed they were looking for fish to eat. Wings angled backward,

they dived straight toward the pavement seeking sustenance.

By 1973, the California Brown Pelican had been listed by both

state and federal agencies as an endangered species. Their numbers

had been drastically reduced by the use of pesticides such as DDT,

which interfered with eggshell production, and the over-fishing of

some of their main sources of food such as northern anchovies and

Pacific sardines. Since then, their numbers have been increasing

gradually in North America. Recently, spotting a few large groups of

these magnificent birds swooping high over our beaches or skimming

the water, I was beginning to be hopeful.

Pelecanus occidentalus. Weighing up to 10 pounds with a wingspan

of up to 7 feet, the large birds are elegant fliers. High above the

shore or gliding low over the blue-green surface of the sea, they

appear like a well-trained squadron of planes. However, once the

Brown Pelican begins to forage for food it becomes an ungainly thing,

plunging from heights of 20 to 60 feet straight down into the water

with a terrific splash. Beneath the birds’ skin air sacs cushion the

impact and help it to the surface. There, once the water subsides,

the pelican can be seen gliding smoothly on the surface unperturbed.

It may have a struggling fish held in the hooked upper tip of its

bill, which it may then toss in the air to allow the fish to be

swallowed head first. In the expandable pouch below its bill the

pelican can hold three times what its stomach can.

So what is happening to these wonderful and entertaining birds of

our coastal waters? The incident in Arizona is not the only one to

have come to light in recent weeks. Just last week, it was reported

in San Diego’s North County Times that SeaWorld’s animal rescue and

rehabilitation unit had treated more than 100 sick birds found along

the local shores. This number is five to eight times more than usual

for this time of year. The birds were emaciated and dehydrated. All

of them were juveniles, perhaps unable to find the food to support

themselves. Other stories like this have been surfacing more and more

in the past two years. Are the waters again being over-fished, or is

there some other even more ominous cause for the Brown Pelicans’ need

to seek fish farther and farther from their natural habitat? The

possibilities seem too many.

The Brown Pelican, while its numbers have been increasing,

continues to be threatened by oil spills, entanglement with hooks and

fishing line, disease outbreaks from overcrowding in diminishing

habitats, disturbance of roosts and more. The breeding population and

nesting productivity are also dependent on changes in climate such as

El Nino and can vary dramatically from year to year. Persistent

residues of chemicals such as DDT in our coastal environment continue

to cause reproductive problems.

I don’t know why my muse sent me off on this particular chase this

week, but it pushed and shoved at me until I committed to this

writing. Just as I could not ignore my muse, we should not ignore

these signals that something is wrong in our environment. In 25 to 30

years -- the potential life span of any of these young Brown Pelicans

-- what will our coastal environment, our paradise, become?

We can help in small ways. For the pelicans and other sea

creatures and birds, pick up fishing line and hooks. Keep pollutants

out of our marine environment. Toxic substances like oil, solvent and

other chemicals find their way easily into waterways and storm drains

that lead to the sea. Dispose of these things properly. Educate

yourself. Pay attention. And a word to the pelicans: Stay off the

pavement.

* CHERRIL DOTY is a creative living coach, writer, artist and

walker who lives and works in Laguna Beach and believes in amazing

and remarkable things and continuous learning. To schedule a coaching

session or to comment, contact her by e-mail at emmagine@cox.net or

by phone at (949) 251-3993.