By TODD McLEISH/ecoRI
News contributor
A young brown pelican that wandered
far north of its usual winter range showed up on a dock in Galilee Harbor on
Jan. 4 and was eventually captured and brought to the Wildlife Rehabilitators
Association of Rhode Island in Saunderstown to be cared for, but not before
causing a commotion.
It’s return south has been delayed
by the federal government shutdown.
The bird, named Bert by fishermen
who were hand-feeding it fish, appeared healthy and unharmed, according to
birders who observed it.
But the attention it generated from a crowd of
curiosity-seekers, including some who tried to catch it by hand, likely raised
its stress level.
Within days it had become lethargic, perhaps because of the
cold temperatures.
“From the reports we received, the
bird was acting aggressively because it felt threatened by the number of people
that were approaching it and taking pictures,” said Gail Mastrati, spokeswoman
for the Rhode Island Department of Environmental Management (DEM).
DEM and the Wildlife Rehabilitators Association received numerous calls
about the bird from concerned residents, and on Jan. 7 a DEM enforcement
officer observed and assessed the bird, captured it, and delivered it to the
clinic.
“My initial response was that it was
within the bird’s decision-making power to turn around and fly south, because
at that point it was still flying around and doing well,” said Kristin
Fletcher, executive director of the Wildlife Rehabilitators Association.
“But
then the temperature started dropping and people reported it on the ground and
not moving much. They said it was shivering, so it probably had a bit of
hypothermia.”
Four were observed in the state in
1988, one more following Hurricane Bob in 1991, and five were seen in 1992.
From 2000 to 2002, six brown pelicans were reported in Rhode Island, and as
many as a dozen were seen following Hurricane Sandy in 2012, three of which
were cared for by the Wildlife Rehabilitators Association.
The most recent
sighting prior to this month was in 2014 on Block Island. Most were observed in
the summer and fall, though at least three were seen in winter.
The closely related American white
pelican, which breeds on lakes in the West and winters across the southern tier
of the country, is also an occasional visitor to the Ocean State. At least 13
were observed between 1989 and 2012, two of which survived the winter and one
that didn’t.
Fletcher called the brown pelican in
her care “a spunky guy” and “a great eater,” noting that he appears healthy and
at the proper weight.
“From what I’m seeing now, the bird
is in pretty good condition,” she said.
“He might not be the brightest
youngster, but he found a good thing at the docks, and then it just got cold.
We’ve got him in a large warm area with a big pool of water, and he hangs
around the side of the pool eating fish. Our goal will be to transfer him to a
seabird sanctuary in the South for release.”
After identifying a suitable
sanctuary — perhaps the same one used for the pelicans the clinic cared for
following Hurricane Sandy — clinic staff must obtain a permit from DEM and a
letter from a veterinarian saying the bird is in good condition. The sanctuary
accepting the bird must also receive approval from the U.S. Fish & Wildlife
Service.
“It’s against the law to cross state
lines with wildlife,” Fletcher said. “The concern is about transferring
diseases to other populations. That’s why we need a vet letter saying it’s
healthy when transferred.”
The government shutdown will likely
delay the Fish & Wildlife Service permit indefinitely, so the bird may be
in Rhode Island for a while.
“There’s no physical reason why we
have to hold onto him,” Fletcher said. “He doesn’t appear terribly stressed
now, and he has his fish and his pool. We’re monitoring his weight and watching
for signs of frostbite. Ordinarily the permits don’t take much time, but this
year might be different.”
How to transport the bird south is
yet to be determined.
Rhode Island resident and author
Todd McLeish runs a wildlife blog.