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Calif. Pelicans Hit by Mystery Illness

Experts puzzled as dying birds turn up miles from coastal home

By Rob Quinn, Newser Staff

Posted Jan 6, 2009 5:46 AM CST

(Newser) – A mystery disease causing disoriented pelicans to crash to earth in unusual locations near the California coast has wildlife experts stumped, reports the Los Angeles Times. Bruised and fatigued birds are being found on highways and in backyards far from their usual seaside haunts. Some appear to be dying, but rescue centers are nursing many of the endangered birds back to health while labs test for toxins and viruses.

"We're a little freaked out by this," said a spokeswoman for a wildlife group. "We've never seen anything like it." Experts have ruled out starvation as a cause, noting that fish stocks are up. Some suspect the illness may be triggered by fire retardant chemicals washed out to sea after recent forest fires, or by lowered resistance to a particular toxin that usually kills young pelicans during warmer months.

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A brown pelican comes in for a landing on a dock post next to others. (AP Photo/Phil Coale)

Wildlife technician Julie King prepares to examine an ailing California brown pelican at the LA Oiled Bird Care & Education Center in Los Angeles' San Pedro district. (AP Photo/Reed Saxon)

Ailing pelicans await the results of tests in an enclosure at the LA Oiled Bird Care & Education Center in Los Angeles' San Pedro district . (AP Photo/Reed Saxon)

Wildlife biologist Susan Kaveggia, right, and wildlife technician Julie King examine an ailing California brown pelican at the LA Oiled Bird Care & Education Center in Los Angeles' San Pedro district. (AP Photo/Reed Saxon)

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They're pretty tough, having survived everything they've been through. But pelicans are also very fragile, and they need our help. - Veterinarian Erica Lander of the International Bird Rescue Research Center

Pelicans have been hammered over the years by oil spills, DDT, domoic acid, fishing line, gunshots, starvation and parasites—we're expert at dealing with those problems. But right now, we're scratching our heads.
- David Weeshoff, rescue volunteer

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Calif. Pelicans Hit by Mystery Illness