The Peninsula’s “Pelican Lady”, Wendy Gillespie has returned a one-year-old pelican into the wild following four days of intensive care.
“This immature male pelican has had his fair share of near misses,” she said.
“He almost passed due to ingestion of algal toxin from a stormwater drain which Central Coast Council hasn’t remediated in 25 years.
“However, this wasn’t his first rescue.
“When he was five months old I rescued him with a very large hook in his foot joint which had obviously been in situ for months.
“Infection and other damage required 21 days of medication and specialist veterinary care.
“I hadn’t seen him since he was released seven months ago and had recently been wondering about his progress.
“Then I saw him sick from the toxin in Brisbane Water while surveying for injured and sick pelicans in my kayak.”
Gillespie said she had easily recognised him as the same pelican she had treated as a juvenile.
“He has very distinct colouring and is possibly the quietest and most gentle male pelican I’ve handled in my 25 years of rescues,” she said.
“Every pelican is unique in character and physical features just like humans.
“Apart from being fully debilitated from ‘blue green algal toxin’ he also had another light infection in the same foot joint first treated (when he was five months old) due to a second hook injury.
“Most foot and leg injuries in pelicans are due to paddling through fishing tackle and discarded fishing gear.
“Both health issues were sorted in his four-day stay and when he was released he was greeted on the water by other young pelicans.”
Gillespie said her four-year recreational fishing study, soon to be published, flagged that young male pelicans were at higher risk from repeated recreational fishing interaction as compared to their female counterparts.
“They may not have a fast car or a jetski, but at year one their hormones kick into full gear with risk-taking a major issue that makes them more vulnerable to fishing interaction injuries,” she said.
“If you’d like to assist me with my self-funded rescue and research operations on the Peninsula and across the Central Coast, please contact me at pelicanladywoywoy@gmail.com or at pelicanrescueandresearch@gmail.com.
My contact number to report any sick or injured pelicans is 0458 975 498.
Source:
Wendy Gillespie
My wife and I like visiting Woywoy from time to time and enjoy especially the pelicans at the wharf and Wendy’s special care for their well being. We have learned that there’s a heavy toll on pelicans and for that matter all marine bird life from toxic water and fishing hooks and line. We see an urgent need for action for the survival of this bird life that Wendy could well advise on the process.