[birding] Fwd: U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service Press Release about Brown Pelicans on Oregon Coast

[Nelson, Kim - FW]

FYI

Kim Nelson
Oregon State University
Dept. of Fisheries and Wildlife
104 Nash Hall
Corvallis, OR 97331
(541)737-1962
(541)737-1980 fax
kim.nelson at oregonstate.edu

---------- Forwarded message ----------
From:  <dawn_grafe at fws.gov>
Date: Mon, Jan 25, 2010 at 7:08 PM
Subject: Press Release on Brown Pelicans

Attached please find a press release regarding the current starvation of
Brown Pelicans along the Oregon coast.

Please contact me if you have any questions about the news release.

Dawn Grafe
Visitor Services Manager

US Fish and Wildlife Service
Oregon Coast National Wildlife Refuge Complex
2127 SE Marine Science Drive
Newport, OR 97365
541-867-4550
www.fws.gov/oregoncoast

[SEE TEXT ONLY OF NEWS RELEASE BELOW] (See attached file: Sunset
Pelicans.jpg)(See attached file: Roosting.jpg)(See attached file:
OR_Coast_Brown_Pelicans1_25_2010.doc)
Photographs taken by Roy W. Lowe.
U.S. Fish & Wildlife Service
======================== TEXT ONLY BELOW ================== Department
of the Interior U.S. Fish & Wildlife Service Pacific Regional Office
911 NE 11th Avenue
Portland, Oregon 97232-4181
Phone:  503/231-6121
Fax:     503/231-2122
http://pacific.fws.gov

NEWS RELEASE

DATE: January 25, 2010
CONTACT:        Dawn Grafe, (541) 867-4550
Amy J Gaskill, APR (503) 231-6874

Brown Pelicans Dying on the Oregon Coast Do Not Feed the Pelicans -
Pelicans Protected Under Migratory Bird Treaty Act

The U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service (Service) has been receiving calls
about Brown Pelicans that are either washing up dead on the coast or are
exhibiting behavior which is uncharacteristic for the species (ie.
begging for food, no fear of humans, eating bread crumbs as handouts).
 Many of the birds are emaciated, or starving and this is the reason for
their seemingly lack of fear of humans.

California Brown Pelicans are protected under the Migratory Bird Treaty
Act. Thus it is against the law to capture, kill, or possess these
birds.  Anyone found in violation of this law could face penalties of up
to $15,000 in fines and/or 6 months imprisonment for each violation.  If
you have information of anyone violating the Migratory Bird Treaty Act
please fill in the violation report form at:
http://www.fws.gov/pacific/lawenforcement/reportviolations.html or call
your local U.S.  Fish and Wildlife Service Special Agent at:
(503) 682-6131

If you come upon a Brown Pelican that is still alive but appears to be
starving here is what to do:

*  If the bird is in the area of the coast from Astoria to Yachats
please call the Wildlife Center of the North Coast at (503) 338-3954.
Visit their Web site at www.coastwildlife.org/Home.html

*  If the bird is in the area of the coast from Florence south to Gold
Beach please call Free Flight Bird Rehabilitation at (541) 347-3882.
Visit their Web site is www.freeflightwildlife.org

*   If you find a dead Brown Pelican please leave it where you found
it.  Under the Migratory Bird Treaty Act it is illegal to possess any
part of a migratory bird, dead or alive. If you find a dead pelican
please contact the Coastal Observation and Seabird Survey Team at
(206) 221-6893 or visit their Web site at:
http://depts.washington.edu/coasst/

*  Finally, please DO NOT feed these birds.  This will only lead to
further habituation of these birds to handouts from humans. It is
important that these birds continue on their migratory route.

After the breeding season in California and Mexico, California Brown
Pelicans migrate north throughout California, Oregon, Washington and
British Columbia in the summer months and usually begin to head back
south in large numbers in October. This year, however, a large number of
pelicans remained along the Oregon coast through the winter. Recent
storms and high winds have limited the pelicans ability to hunt and dive
for food. These and other unknown factors contribute to the pelicans'
behavior to beg for food. We discourage hand feeding pelicans as their
diet is very particular. Good intentions of feeding pelicans the bones
and heads of fish can cause damage to the pelicans'
throat pouch. Also fish bait can be contaminated with harmful bacteria
or may be treated with chemicals to promote better fishing or preserve
the bait, but it can make a pelican very ill.

The mission of the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service is working with others
to conserve, protect and enhance fish, wildlife, plants and their
habitats for the continuing benefit of the American people. We are both
a leader and trusted partner in fish and wildlife conservation, known
for our scientific excellence, stewardship of lands and natural
resources, dedicated professionals and commitment to public service. For
more information on our work and the people who make it happen, visit
www.fws.gov.

-- FWS --
************************************************************************
***
To unsubscribe, send an email to PacificSeabirds-request at lists.fws.gov.
Enter "unsubscribe" in the subject field.  Questions? Contact Verena
Gill at verena_gill at fws.gov
************************************************************************
***