In Southern California, wildlife rehabilitation centers are overwhelmed with Brown Pelicans suffering from a dual crisis—poisoning by toxic algae and malnutrition due to the death of adult birds. A harmful algal bloom producing domoic acid has severely afflicted seabirds and marine mammals, causing sickness and fatalities. As sick adult pelicans leave their young to fend for themselves, numbers of starving baby pelicans arriving at rescue organizations have surged. Experts believe these phenomena are interconnected, leading to an unprecedented influx of malnourished chicks needing assistance.
"It is unusual for us to receive such a high volume of chicks that are this young. Many are very young birds, not fully grown, and do not seem to understand how to feed themselves."
"They are just starving and cold and sad," said Rebecca Duerr, the center's director of research and veterinary science. At its San Pedro location, specialists were caring for 60 pelican babies as of Tuesday, with more arriving every day.
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