A funny old bird is the pelican

It's bill can hold more than its belly can.

As you can see from the pics below, we did a rescue of a different kind today. This morning was the day of the first Brisbane Area Rescue Network's (BARN) annual general meeting. Three of our members, Hammy, Nat and Mandy, are also part of the Pelican and Seabird Rescue organisation. Naturally, the rescue phone didn't stop ringing during the meeting, and neither did PASR's phone.

Someone who lives nearby where these photos were taken at Cabbage Tree Point had reported a sick pelican and Hammy was going down to check it out. Donna and I jumped at the chance to go and help.

By the time we got there (bloody sat nav) two birds had already been caught, simply by grabbing them by the bill. The birds at Cabbage Tree Point are used to fishermen and so are pretty tame, unlike in some places where they get stressed out by dogs and kids, so they weren't that hard to catch.

One of the birds had a fish hook in its back. That was removed and the bird released after being given the once over with a metal detector to make sure it didn't have any other fishing tackle in it.

The other one was quite ill and out of condition, that's the one that Hammy had got the call about. It was transported up to the wildlife hospital at Australia Zoo. Yes, that's right, Steve Irwin's zoo.

A third bird had a hole in the bottom of its bill. It needed to be caught and assessed as well. Bill catching this one was going to be a bit harder as the birds were now getting a bit wary. So while one person kept them occupied (bribed them with fish), a snare was set up.

Once that was all done, it was a simple matter of luring the right bird over the snare and catching it. We gave it the once over, or I should say Hammy and Wes from PASR gave it the once over while showing us how to do it, then after painting a "P" on each wing it was released by Donna.

The reason for the "P" was that if someone rang to report a pelican with a hole in its bill, the person taking the call would ask if it had a letter on its wings. Then they'd know it was okay as it had already been checked. Different organisations use different letters.

Hopefully, we'll get to do a few more rescues like this one. It's a lot more interesting and challenging than picking up an animal that's already been restrained and put in a cardboard box for you. It's also something that not a lot of people around here are doing. Also, Hammy's a great teacher and really gives you a chance to get involved, rather than just showing you.


Donna checks over the bird with a metal detector while Hammy (kneeling) and Jen restrain it. Jen is lucky enough to live just up the road from here and she was the one that reported it.


Donna carries the sick bird to the rescue truck for its trip to Australia Zoo. If you think that's a big bird, it's actually quite underweight. Most of them are bigger.


Hammy lays out the snare.


Caught. Wes chases the snared bird, the one second from left without its feet under it. It all happened so quickly I nearly missed photographing it.


Wes holds the bird while Hammy checks it over. Notice the hole in its bill, as it's only a small hole it'll totally recover.


Just to prove I didn't hide behind the camera the whole time. I got the chance to handle the bird as well. Hammy thought she'd found something in the bird until she realised the metal detector had found my watch and wedding ring, and probably my mobile phone, wallet and the zip on my jacket.


The bird after realease wearing her P-plates.

If you've ever wondered how to tell the difference between a male and female pelican, have a look at them when they're standing in a group. The males have longer bills, long enough for it to be noticeable.