This is for the birds!
By William “Chip” Pfeiffer, Lead Lifeguard, SIB Ocean Rescue

The Ocean Rescue lifeguards deal with various types of seabird wild life. Different types of seagulls, such as ospreys, frigate birds, cormorants, and pelicans are of the local habitat for South Florida. For the Sunny Isles Beach Ocean Rescue lifeguards, rescuing injured or wounded pelicans has become a weekly task; sometimes as frequent as daily in some cases; hence the term “pelican rescue.” These pelican rescues are performed by our lifeguards, both on the beach and in the water.

There are eight types of pelicans found worldwide. South Florida is home of the Brown Pelicans, who have come off the endangered species list but are on the list of species for special concern. Pelicans in general migrate twice a year, spring and fall. They can lay up to two or three eggs and only one or two will hatch. It takes the pelican three years from birth to reach adulthood. The life expectancy is about ten years, but they can live up to 25 to 30 years. This is one of the reasons why the City of Sunny Isles Beach prohibits fishing on the beach.

The Brown Pelican will fly in circles above its main source of food (live whole bait fish) and dive at a speed of 45 mph, plunging into the water with its long skinny beak. The beak will open and trap many fish in its pouch and let the water spill out, leaving only fish to be swallowed whole. They can only digest SMALL BAIT FISH WITHOUT BONES. Two of the biggest problems for the seabirds are human intervention and loss of habitat.

Beach patrons always alert the lifeguards of the locations of injured or sick birds, that is if the lifeguards have not spotted them first. Many patrons want to know what to do if they find an injured or sick bird. Patrons also wonder if there is anybody who can help them; what if the lifeguards are not on duty?

If you come across an injured or sick bird in the City of Sunny Isles Beach, the first thing you should do is alert the lifeguards. In the event that lifeguards are not available, small birds such as seagulls should be placed in a box and taken to the Newport Fishing Pier or driven to the Pelican Harbor Seabird Station. If the bird is large, such as a pelican, the sea bird station will come and pick the bird up. 90 percent of the injured birds have fishing hooks, lines, or weights wrapped around them, and one out of three has swallowed the tackle.

It is imperative not to cut or remove the tackle unless it is chocking the bird. The large birds can be placed in the pens on the Fishing Pier located at Pier Park on 167th Street; the Newport Pier attendants or lifeguards will handle the rest. If you would like to call in the location of an injured pelican (large birds only), please contact:

Pelican Harbor Seabird Station
1279 N.E. 79th Street Causeway
Miami, Fl. 33181-4201
Phone: 305-751-9840 fax: 305-759-4461
Website: www.pelicanharbor.org
Hours of Operation:
8:00 a.m. – 12:00 p.m.
2:00 p.m. – 5:00 p.m.

The Seabird Station has been in service for 26 years and treats 25,000 birds per year; four to five hundred of these birds are pelicans. They have seen ninety seven different types of species in the past year. Once medically cared for, 84 percent of the pelicans are tagged for monitoring purposes and released back into their local habitat. This tagging system allows for the pelicans to be monitored for sicknesses that might come from our local waterways.

Wendy Fox who is a federal/state certified Wild Life Rehabilitator, is in charge of the Seabird Station with her son and assistant, Brian. There are 25 volunteers along with a few veterinarians who donate their time and equipment for this fine cause. Miami-Dade County graciously keeps the rent low, which consequently helps keep the Seabird Station running. If you are interested in donating or volunteering, contact Wendy at the above address/phone number or at wendy@pelicanharbor.org.

Sunny Isles Beach Ocean Rescue would like to remind everyone that the City of Sunny Isles Beach takes pride in helping Wendy and her crew at Pelican Harbor Seabird Station in rescuing our local seabirds; for more information visit their website.

Remember, alert the lifeguards of the injured or sick birds. To do your part as concerned citizens, please DO NOT FEED THE BIRDS, and if you find an injured bird, DO NOT REMOVE THE TACKLE.

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