International Bird Rescue

The International Bird Rescue Research Center (IBRRC) has admitted a staggering 435 wet and sick California Brown Pelicans since January 1, 2010.

The good news is that more than 200 pelicans have been released back into the wild.

At our Los Angeles bird center, 101 live pelicans currently are in care. The San Francisco Bay center has approximately 20.

Wet, sick and dying pelicans have been flooding into IBRRC bird centers following the heavy rains, flooding and pollution from run-off that hit the California coast in early January 2010. As seabird specialists, IBRRC is doing its best to treat as many of these sick, cold and wet wildlife casualties at both of its California seabird rescue clinics.

The public has responded to IBRRC’s call for monetary help and donated supplies to assist this unprecedented rescue.

More than a dozen pelicans were released in San Pedro on Wednesday afternoon. The birds were found sick or injured, and nursed back to health at our bird center near Los Angeles Harbor.

Staffers and volunteers at IBRRC released 14 pelicans that had been nursed back to health. They were set free at Royal Palms State Beach in San Pedro after 10 days of blood tests, treatment and food.

Hundreds of Brown Pelicans have been found wet, sick and dying along the California coast since early January when El Nino like storms lashed the state with severe rain and flooding. IBRRC has been appealing to the public to help with the high cost of caring for these birds.

Watch the ABC-TV news report: http://abclocal.go.com/kabc/video?id=7270503

IBRRC is now accepting applications for our 2010 Oil Spill Response Team training, sponsored by the San Francisco Foundation Cosco Busan Oil Spill Fund.

Over the course of the year, participants will be trained in oil spill response with the hope that they will be able to join our world renowned team of experts. While this will be a volunteer position at first, you will be considered for spill response, which can be a temporary paid position.

The training will be held in Northern California at IBRRC’s Fairfield bird center. Applications are due by March 26, 2010. Training will tentatively start April 10th.

There’s been a outpouring of support this past month from all our supporters as we respond to the pelican crisis that has hit Central and Southern California.

Many of you have responded with cash donations, a pelican adoption or an offer to volunteer. Some have purchased t-shirts or delivered coffee and food. For all of this, IBRRC is so very grateful.

A number of organizations and businesses have stepped up to help us, too. One of our long-time corporate sponsors, Pelican Products of Torrance, CA donated $2,000 to help us cover the costs of caring for these hungry Brown Pelicans. See the Press Release

In the past Pelican Products has also donated flashlights, searchlights and water-proof cases for our spill responses.

We also want to thank Procter & Gamble for its donation of two transport vans, a continuing supply of DAWN dishwashing liquid and TIDE soap. In 2009 P&G also helped raise awareness and donations with its Dawn Saves Wildlife program that donated money for each bottle of DAWN purchased and activated online.

Thanks again for sharing our goal of caring for sick, injured and oiled pelicans and other aquatic birds.

We posted a new video on our YouTube Channel as a rescue team from International Bird Rescue Research Center responds to a call about 30 cold, wet California Brown Pelicans in Los Angeles Harbor area.

The San Pedro center has received numerous calls from the public reporting dead, dying or sick birds along the Southern California coast since early January.

IBRRC now has more than 350 pelicans in care at two California bird rescue centers. Between the two centers, IBRRC is feeding a 1,000 pounds a fish a day to pelicans in care.

We’re appealing to the public for cash donations to help pay for treatment of these majestic birds.

See more YouTube videos: Saving Seabirds

To date, International Bird Rescue Research Center has admitted a staggering 310 California Brown Pelicans since January 1st, and they just keep coming. Our Los Angeles center has around 140 pelicans currently in care while our San Francisco Bay center has around 65. Thanks to our amazing volunteers we are managing to keep our heads above water, although the high numbers of birds are resulting in long hours, which always take their toll on everyone.

It has most definitely been raining pelicans. Let’s hope for a break in the clouds soon.