Rescued Pelican Flies Out Of Essex Snowstorm To Florida Sunshine

ESSEX, CT — Bringing together a slew of caring volunteers up and down the east coast, a stranded young Brown Pelican, who was found in Essex last Wednesday, has plans of flying out of state this week, with a little help from a lot of friends.

A member of the Connecticut Audubon Society spotted the Brown Pelican next to a dock in Essex and he wasn’t looking so hot. State conservation officers from the Department of Energy and Environmental Protection were contacted and the southern visitor was rescued and promptly brought to the caring hands of A Place Called Hope (APCH) raptor rehabilitation center, a non-profit in Killingworth.

According to APCH’s Director, Christine Cummings, the pelican was in poor condition when it arrived and was suffering from hypothermia due to the cold conditions.

The bird, who has been named Arvy, is doing better now and has hitched a ride back to its southern roots with mother, daughter pilot team Laurie and Arianna Strand, who are members of the Meriden, CT Flight Club.

Arvy, who was named by the pilots, because they will be flying an RV12 plane, is scheduled to fly out of Meriden’s Markham Municipal Airport on Wednesday or Thursday, (depending on the weather). The young, displaced bird is being dropped off at the Bushe Wildlife Sanctuary in Jupiter, Florida where it will be rehabilitated fully in its natural, warm weather climate.

“It really is a fluke that it was here at all,” said Cummings. “We don’t know if it was a stowaway on a boat and that's how it got up here. Or, if the storm brought it up, but it definitely would not survive here on its own."

Bringing out the best in the community, the story of this refugee pelican has gone viral and several people have volunteered their time and expertise to helping this feathered friend get the help it needed. Cummings explained that eight different offers came in from pilots in the area who volunteered to fly the pelican to Florida. In addition, several people driving down south volunteered to take the passenger with them on their journeys. Others have volunteered to be there, during refueling stops, to feed the bird and take care of it if there are any complications, and still, others have donated funds to help out with fuel costs for the trip.

“I am really blown away by everyone’s generosity,” said Cummings, who is happy that the bird will be back in warmer weather, where it belongs soon.

For now, the long-beaked visitor, who suffered some wing bruising, hypothermia and possible frostbite, is riding out its first snowstorm in the warmth and safety of APCH, watched over by the capable, compassionate staff there, who are making sure this little Brown Pelican remains happy and healthy with round the clock care, proper feed and needed medication to increase its blood circulation.

To donate to A Place Called Hope go to, https://www.aplacecalledhoperaptors.com.