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Bird Ally X at Humboldt Wildlife Care Center has released 164 fish waste contaminated brown pelicans and other birds with more releases to come. After rescuing over 250 fish-oiled birds late June through early August, BAX/HWCC has been providing care, cleaning, and feeding these young pelicans and conditioning them for their return to the wild.

Twenty-four birds were released on Aug. 30 into Humboldt Bay at North Jetty on the Samoa Peninsula. This is an excellent site because pelicans of all ages as well as other birds are frequently found foraging here for anchovies and other prey fish that are abundant in Humboldt Bay. Area biologists who study pelicans report that juvenile birds are thriving from our region north to the mouth of the Columbia River. All birds released were given permanent metal bands registered with the federal bird banding lab so that they might be tracked if found in the future. Volunteers spent the day shuttling birds from the primary care facility in Bayside to the release site.

BAX still seeks more cooperation from the Harbor Districts whose infrastructure caused these contaminations, to both assist in the care of the birds injured as well as prevent any future, easily avoided injuries to the iconic brown pelican and other wildlife.

With 36 fish-oiled birds still in care and a fish bill still in need of payment contributions are still needed.

To contribute please visit: www.birdallyx.net, www.humwild.org, or find us on Facebook at https://www.facebook.com/bird.ally.x.

PHOTO BY LAURA CORSIGLIA/BAX

Fish-waste contaminated brown pelicans were recently released after treatment by Bird Ally X.