admitted to our bird hospital every day. These birds all need food, medical care and shelter to survive. Nine out of ten birds brought to the Sanctuary suffer from injuries caused directly or indirectly by humans; gunshot wounds, entanglement in fishing tackle, and poisoning by pesticides and environmental pollution are examples of the dangers that face these animals every day.
The most common injuries sustained by the Eastern brown pelican and other sea birds involve fishhooks and line. A pelican looking for a handout from a local fisherman can easily get tangled in line, or accidentally get hooked when diving after a fisherman's bait or catch. After the bird is hooked, the fisherman often cuts the line, abandoning the bird to a slow death by starvation after it becomes hopelessly entangled in its mangrove rookery.
REHABILITATION AT THE SANCTUARY
Sick and injured birds go through three stages of recovery:
1. New patients enter the emergency room in our hospital facility where an exam,
diagnosis and subsequent medical care are administered by certified wildlife personnel.
A complete medical record and feeding chart is maintained on each bird.
2. After the recuperation is underway, the bird is placed in an indoor recovery room
for further observation. Medical personnel and trained volunteers carefully monitor each
bird's condition to ensure that food and medication are being retained.
3. When the indoor recuperation process is complete, the bird is placed outdoors in a
large rehabilitation aviary with other birds of its species. Once rehabilitated, the birds
are returned to the wild. Birds with permanent injuries are given a home at the Sanctuary
or other rehabilitation center or zoo.
Barbara Suto, Avian Hospital Administrator, (right photo)
celebrates 26 years at the Sanctuary August 2007.
WHAT TO DO IF YOU FIND A BABY BIRD
