Community Corner
A Hopeful Rescue at Suncoast Seabird Sanctuary
A unique Pelican rescue adventure near Gandy bridge, ends in high hopes and community gratitude.
After two consecutive nights of phone calls from condo residents in Tampa, the Suncoast Seabird Sanctuary successfully rescued the badly injured mature Pelican on Wednesday June 8th. Rescued not by foot, not by car, but by kayak.
Rescuer Liz Vreeland got the call and headed to the waters near Gandy bridge in the early morning. She paddled around, walked the inlets, and asked maintenance people for any signs of the injured bird – no luck. Two hours had passed and still no bird. Throughout the search there had been multiple calls to the Sanctuary about seeing the same injured Pelican, so she couldn't give up now. Just as Vreeland was thinking about heading back, she spotted a channel near an island ahead.
“It was my 37th birthday. Ready to throw in the towel,” Vreeland said. “Something led me right to him.”
Find out what's happening in Pinellas Beachesfor free with the latest updates from Patch.
There he was, sitting alone with a broken left wing dangling on his side. The Pelican could barley walk without tripping over his wing, so it was a quick and easy capture. He sat calmly in Vreeland's lap as she gently guarded the injured bird while paddling back.
“It was amazing- the energy exchange,” Vreeland said. “I was there to help and he needed it, and we seemed have that understanding.”
Find out what's happening in Pinellas Beachesfor free with the latest updates from Patch.
A gentlemen who had made one of the multiple phone calls about the injured bird, helped Vreeland and the Pelican get safely off shore and into the vehicle.
The Pelican was unable to be rehabilitated due to the extreme fracture in his wing, which was too severe and too old to be repaired.
“The bird did not suffer another day trying to find food while floating, rather than from his normal plunge-dive,” Vreeland said. “Thanks to a couple of caring people who noticed it was injured and took the time to look up numbers and call for help.”
The Suncoast Seabird Sanctuary is asking that the you please call for help if you notice an injured bird. The sooner the bird get helps, the better chance it has to survive. Vreeland says that 90 percent of birds are injured by man, and that statistic is why she started rescuing. At 18 years or older, you can sign up to train as a rescue volunteer.
Contact the Suncoast Seabird Sanctuary for more information regarding volunteering, donations, and rescues.