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Pelican Crisis


Pelican Crisis
Photo Information
Copyright: Manyee Desandies (manyee) Gold Star Critiquer/Gold Star Workshop Editor/Gold Note Writer [C: 3089 W: 230 N: 6774] (23770)
Genre: Animals
Medium: Color
Date Taken: 2010-01-26
Categories: Birds
Camera: Canon Powershot SX110IS
Photo Version: Original Version
Date Submitted: 2010-02-25 18:06
Viewed: 3502
Points: 18
[Note Guidelines] Photographer's Note
This pelican was enjoying a dip in the "creek" that ran through the beach. But during the month of January, hundreds of California Brown Pelicans were found... disoriented and bruised, landing on highways and airport runways, in farm fields, alleys and backyards, miles from their normal coastal haunts. Many of them died. What caused the massive die-off?

California Brown Pelicans in Peril

[Hundreds of] wet, sick and dying pelicans have been flooding into IBRRC bird centers following the heavy rains, flooding and pollution from run-off that hit the California coast in early January 2010. As seabird specialists, IBRRC is doing its best to treat as many of these sick, cold and wet wildlife casualties at both of its California seabird rescue clinics.

A series of strong winter storms battering the California coast has had a severe impact on local populations of the Brown Pelicans. The birds have been affected by the bad weather but also by the oil, grease and other contaminants washing into the ocean as a result of storm water run-off. Suffering from hypothermia, the lucky ones are being brought to the IBRRC's bird centers in San Pedro, near Los Angeles Harbor and the Fairfield/Cordelia center in the San Francisco Bay Area.

“Seabird feathers provide a natural barrier to water, as well as insulation from the cold” says IBRRC Director, Jay Holcomb. “These pelicans are getting cold and wet because the water quality is so poor right now and these added contaminants are preventing the feathers from doing their job.”

Source
Miss_Piggy, PeterZ, ellis49, Adanac, roges, maurydv has marked this note useful
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Critiques [Translate]

Hallo Manyee
How sad to read about the deaths of so many of these beautiful pelicans. They are such unique birds with unique characteristics and prominent features which are seen well on your image. The large and colourful bill, the big eyes, the beautiful and impressive wingspan and the variation of colours of the feathers. It is indeed a lovely bird and it is a pity that its lifespan are shortened by such circumstances you described in your note. Thanks for sharing. Best regards.
Anna

  • Great 
  • PeterZ Gold Star Critiquer/Gold Star Workshop Editor/Gold Note Writer [C: 5137 W: 166 N: 13121] (49139)
  • [2010-02-26 2:52]

Hello Manyee,
What a strange and sad story. They look completely disorientated.
Very nice photo in beautiful colours and good sharpness. Good low POV.
Regards,
Peter

Great picture, nice capture. I love pelican, they are so photogenique

Hello old friend,
long time no see. ;-)
It's sad to read about the deaths of these beautiful birds.
You have captured the bird in a nice pose and it also well composed. Good details and well exposed too.
Well done.

/Gert

  • Great 
  • Adanac Gold Star Critiquer/Gold Note Writer [C: 1273 W: 1 N: 6188] (21378)
  • [2010-02-26 17:02]

Hello Manyee,
Excellent image quality but very sad news to hear. Your image has wonderful colour and good sharpness and I like the creek cutting its way through the beach sand. Thanks for sharing this great posting Manyee.
Rick

  • Great 
  • roges Gold Star Critiquer/Gold Note Writer [C: 957 W: 0 N: 1329] (6264)
  • [2010-02-27 5:52]

Hello Manyee.
superb macro.
Extraordinary clarity and color. A very successful macro.
Have a nice Saturday,
Adrian

Hello ManYee,
a sad story about these California Brown Pelicans; a beautiful picture taken with good sharpness and timing, splendid natural colours, excellent low POW and nice composition.
TFS
Best regards
Ciao Maurizio

amazing capture, sad story, TFS Ori

Hi ManYee,
I'm so upset at the world today and how we are poorly taking care of the only planet we have to live on, and now we have to deal with the Gulf coast crisis. Who are we to decide the fate for the majority of life on this planet by polluting the planet, humans are greedy. We are too stupid to realize what we have before it's all gone. Your image shows the stress in the eyes of this beautiful coastal bird and looks exhausted, poor bird. Thank you for your note as it opens my eyes even wider to this sad event. :)

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