Pelicans fly overhead as surfers wait for a wave during a Surfers Healing event at Doheny State Beach in Dana Point, CA on Wednesday, June 26, 2024. The event allows people on the autism spectrum to catch waves with an instructor. (Photo by Paul Bersebach, Orange County Register/SCNG)
Pelican squadron reporting for duty (Scott Lagace)
A group of California Brown Pelicans takes up residence on the break wall in King Harbor. (Photo by Chuck Bennett, Contributing Photographer)
Following weeks of care at International Bird Rescue for starvation or injuries, the first Southern California group of rehabilitated Brown Pelicans, 11 in total, returned to the wild at White Point Beach in San Pedro on Wednesday June 5, 2024. (Photo by Brittany M. Solo Press-Telegram/SCNG)
Staff and volunteers open the carriers for 11 Brown Pelicans to return to their natural habitat, following weeks of care at International Bird Rescue for starvation or injuries. The release took place at White Point Beach in San Pedro on Wednesday June 5, 2024. (Photo by Brittany M. Solo Press-Telegram/SCNG)
Following weeks of care at International Bird Rescue for starvation or injuries, the first Southern California group of rehabilitated Brown Pelicans, 11 in total, returned to the wild at White Point Beach in San Pedro on Wednesday June 5, 2024. (Photo by Brittany M. Solo Press-Telegram/SCNG)
Staff and volunteers open the carriers for 11 Brown Pelicans to return to their natural habitat, following weeks of care at International Bird Rescue for starvation or injuries. The release took place at White Point Beach in San Pedro on Wednesday June 5, 2024. (Photo by Brittany M. Solo Press-Telegram/SCNG)
Following weeks of care at International Bird Rescue for starvation or injuries, the first Southern California group of rehabilitated Brown Pelicans, 11 in total, returned to the wild at White Point Beach in San Pedro on Wednesday June 5, 2024. (Photo by Brittany M. Solo Press-Telegram/SCNG)
Following weeks of care at International Bird Rescue for starvation or injuries, the first Southern California group of rehabilitated Brown Pelicans, 11 in total, on Wednesday June 5, 2024. (Photo by Brittany M. Solo Press-Telegram/SCNG)
Following weeks of care at International Bird Rescue for starvation or injuries, the first Southern California group of rehabilitated Brown Pelicans, 11 in total, returned to the wild at White Point Beach in San Pedro on Wednesday June 5, 2024. (Photo by Brittany M. Solo Press-Telegram/SCNG)
Following weeks of care at International Bird Rescue for starvation or injuries, the first Southern California group of rehabilitated Brown Pelicans, 11 in total, returned to the wild at White Point Beach in San Pedro on Saturday, Dec. 31, 2022. (Photo by Brittany M. Solo Press-Telegram/SCNG)
Staff and volunteers open the carriers for 11 Brown Pelicans to return to their natural habitat, following weeks of care at International Bird Rescue for starvation or injuries. The release took place at White Point Beach in San Pedro on Saturday, Dec. 31, 2022. (Photo by Brittany M. Solo Press-Telegram/SCNG)
Following weeks of care at International Bird Rescue for starvation or injuries, the first Southern California group of rehabilitated Brown Pelicans, 11 in total, returned to the wild at White Point Beach in San Pedro on Saturday, Dec. 31, 2022. (Photo by Brittany M. Solo Press-Telegram/SCNG)
Staff and volunteers open the carriers for 11 Brown Pelicans to return to their natural habitat, following weeks of care at International Bird Rescue for starvation or injuries. The release took place at White Point Beach in San Pedro on Saturday, Dec. 31, 2022. (Photo by Brittany M. Solo Press-Telegram/SCNG)
A low flying California Brown Pelican takes flight through King Harbor recently. (Photo by Chuck Bennett, Contributing Photographer)
Brown pelicans are released at Corona del Mar in Newport Beach, CA, on Thursday, May 23, 2024. The Wetlands and Wildlife Care Center was inundated with Brown Pelicans who were “stranded” on local beaches in starvation mode for unknown reasons. (Photo by Jeff Gritchen, Orange County Register/SCNG)
“Blue,” left, nicknamed for the color of her temporary band, and her new companion are both healed and were released to their natural habitat in San Pedro on Thursday April 25, 2024. Blue was brought to the Bird Rescue’s Los Angeles Wildlife Center in early March suffering a slashed pouch that required multiple surgeries and over 500 stitches. The female adult pelican spent 45 days in care, and staff noticed she made a connection with a male pelican who was healing from an apparent sea lion bite. Upon their release the two pelicans spent time together on the rocks, spreading their wings before they took flight in unison.
(Photo by Brittany M. Solo, Press-Telegram/SCNG)
Two rehabilitated adult brown pelicans were released to their natural habitat in San Pedro on Thursday April 25, 2024. Blue, nicknamed for her temporary leg band, was brought to the Bird Rescue’s Los Angeles Wildlife Center in San Pedro in early March suffering a slashed pouch that required multiple surgeries and over 500 stitches. The female adult pelican spent 45 days in care, and staff noticed she made a connection with a male pelican that was healing from an apparent sea lion bite. Upon their release the two pelicans spent some time on the rocks, spreading their wings before they took flight in unison.
(Photo by Brittany M. Solo, Press-Telegram/SCNG)
“Blue,” left, nicknamed for the color of her temporary band, and her new companion are both healed and were released to their natural habitat in San Pedro on Thursday April 25, 2024. Blue was brought to the Bird Rescue’s Los Angeles Wildlife Center in early March suffering a slashed pouch that required multiple surgeries and over 500 stitches. The female adult pelican spent 45 days in care, and staff noticed she made a connection with a male pelican who was healing from an apparent sea lion bite. Upon their release the two pelicans spent time on the rocks, spreading their wings before they took flight in unison.
(Photo by Brittany M. Solo, Press-Telegram/SCNG)
“Blue,” right, nicknamed for the color of her temporary band, and her new companion are both healed and were released to their natural habitat in San Pedro on Thursday April 25, 2024. Blue was brought to the Bird Rescue’s Los Angeles Wildlife Center in early March suffering a slashed pouch that required multiple surgeries and over 500 stitches. The female adult pelican spent 45 days in care, and staff noticed she made a connection with a male pelican who was healing from an apparent sea lion bite. Upon their release the two pelicans spent time on the rocks, spreading their wings before they took flight in unison.
(Photo by Brittany M. Solo, Press-Telegram/SCNG)
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Pelicans fly overhead as surfers wait for a wave during a Surfers Healing event at Doheny State Beach in Dana Point, CA on Wednesday, June 26, 2024. The event allows people on the autism spectrum to catch waves with an instructor. (Photo by Paul Bersebach, Orange County Register/SCNG)
The center, 3601 S. Gaffey St., inside Angel’s Gate Park, is one of two in the state that cares for injured and ill waterbirds. The open house will include a demonstration of how rescue staffers clean oiled birds — using Dawn dish soap — and provide other information on how birds are rehabilitated before being released out to sea.
Education stations will include information on different bird diets, a chance to see pelican patients in the outdoor aviary, and a craft table for children.
Staffers will talk about how the center responds with emergency rescue and response teams.
The family friendly event is also a benefit to support the organization’s ongoing work with ill birds — including Bird Rescue’s response to the 2024 brown pelican crisis.
Admission is free but a suggested conation of $10 per person is appreciated.
Sponsors are Marathon Petroleum and the Port of Long Beach.
The center is part of a global conservation organization founded in 1971 and has responded to more than 250 oil spills and other wildlife emergencies, caring for more than 160,000 birds on six continents.
Centers operate in Los Angeles (San Pedro), San Francisco and Anchorage, specializing in emergency preparedness and response, day-to-day aquatic bird care, professional training and scientific research.
Innovations are shared worldwide to teach and inspire the next generation of wildlife specialists.
