A Second Chance for a Soaring Giant
At 9:10am on a Saturday morning, a call came in about a bird in trouble in Morro Bay. The caller, John Flaherty of Central Coast Outdoors, was preparing to lead a kayak tour when he noticed something was wrong. An American White Pelican stood on the shoreline, dirty, lethargic, and not moving. Recognizing the urgency, John called our team before heading out on the water. He knew who to call thanks to a long-time connection with PWC (and Virginia Flaherty, co-owner of Central Coast Outdoors, is a member of our rehabilitation and education team).
A crew of our Rescue and Transport volunteers quickly mobilized. When they arrived, the pelican was still grounded. With patience, teamwork, and help from a nearby paddle-boarder, they safely contained the bird and brought it into care.
The Road to Recovery
At intake, the pelican was severely underweight. We don’t always know what leads to an animal’s condition…illness, injury, food scarcity, and environmental stressors can all play a role. What we can do is provide a safe space, proper nutrition, and expert care to set the animal up for a successful second chance.
Over the next 30 days, the pelican slowly regained strength (and ate more than 4 pounds of fish per day!). It began in a quiet indoor space, then moved to a large outdoor aviary with access to a pool. Once strong enough, our volunteers, with help from the Kayak Shack, returned the bird to Morro Bay. Soon after release, the pelican was feeding alongside a small group of other white pelicans. Success!
About American White Pelicans
If you spend time along the Central Coast, you’re likely familiar with Brown Pelicans, but have you ever seen American White Pelicans? With a wingspan of up to 9.5 feet, they are one of the largest birds in North America, second in wingspan only to the California Condor. Unlike Brown Pelicans, white pelicans do not plunge dive but instead float on the water’s surface and dip their bills to catch fish and other aquatic prey. They often feed cooperatively, working together to herd fish into shallow water before scooping them up.
While Brown Pelicans live along the coast, American White Pelicans use both coastal and inland habitats. They typically breed in inland wetlands and migrate to bays, estuaries, and coastal areas like Morro Bay in the winter. If you travel through the Midwest, you may see white pelicans far from the ocean, something you would almost never see with a Brown Pelican.
Our Volunteers Make it Happen!
April is National Volunteer Appreciation Month, and this story is a powerful reminder of what our volunteers make possible every day.
From the moment a call comes in to the day an animal is released, volunteers are there at every step. They answer hotline calls, respond in the field, transport animals safely, provide daily care in the rehab center and in homecare, assist at the front desk, maintain facilities, lead education efforts, and so much more. They show up early, stay late, and step in whenever wildlife needs help. Their dedication, compassion, and willingness to act are what turn moments of crisis into stories of recovery. Because of that effort, this pelican now has a second chance in the wild.
