 Processing ....
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Field Notes: January 22, 2012
Pelican Brief
By Dr. Scott Ford |
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 A unique patient graced the threshhold of the West Sound Wildlife Shelter in early December. A brown pelican was found at a fish hatchery on the Key Peninsula, apparently very lost and very hungry. Normally, if we see pelicans in Washington, it's during the summertime out at Grays Harbor or the southwestern coast. Pelicans are not able to withstand cold weather and this bird was no different. After a few days, it became apparent that the bird had suffered frostbite of its foot webs. In time, the tissue sloughed and then came a new concern-- several toes were also found to be dead. At that point, surgical amputation was required and I'm happy to say it was a success. We have hopes that it should still be releasable but we will need to transport it south for further care and evaluation. With any luck, our peli should be back in warm waters by springtime!
Do you want to know more? Do you want to DO more? Check out these organizations (that contributed to the bird's care) or drop me a line:
West Sound Wildlife Shelter
All Creatures Animal Hospital
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Right foot pre-surgery.
Can you see the lines where live and dead tissue meet? Also, do you notice that there are webs between ALL 4 toes? In taxonomical terms, this is called "totipalmate." How is this different from a gull or duck?
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Right foot after surgery.
The bird lost about 40% of it's webbing. Fortunately the more serious weight-bearing structures were saved.
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| Field Notes Archives (as web pages with active content) |
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2011-11-20: Eagle Medevac (aka Girl Friday's Journey) -- updated 1/22/12
2011-07-22: Loon Banding in Eastern Washington
2011-06-25: Golden Eagle Housecall
2011-06-13: The Glam of Goose Banding
April, 2011: Yukon and SE Alaska Trip
2009 Scoter Banding in North Puget Sound with Washington Department of Fish and Wildlife
2009-2010 Sea Duck Joint Venture-sponsored research on peri-operative care techniques for long-tailed ducks
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| Field Notes Archives (as pdf documents for easy download, sharing, and printing) |
| Check out these previously featured ASVSA articles: |
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| 2007-09-Alaska Bird Club Hosts Seminar | In September, 2007, the Alaska Bird Club hosted Dr. Scott Ford for a seminar on avian emergency medical techniques.
| | 2007-10-Minimally Invasive Surgical Training | Dr. Ford visited Disney's Animal Kingdom in Florida and learned about minimally-invasive endosurgery in ducks.
| | 2007-11-Peacock Neuters in Washington | Dr. Ford travels to Washington to perform orchidectomies (testicle removal) in 4 peacocks.
| | 2008-06-Juneau Visit | Dr. Ford visits Juneau for medical appointments with pet and wild birds.
| | 2008-08-Corner to Corner | Dr. Ford attends the AAV Conference in Savannah, GA and then is off to the opposite corner of the continent (Barrow, AK) for field work.
| | 2009-04-Oil Spill Exercise, Bald Eagle Foundation, | Dr. Ford visits Ketchikan, Juneau, Skagway, Haines, Anchorage, and Eagle River for teaching, oil spill exercises, meeting with the Bald Eagle Foundation, and pet bird appointments.
| | 2009-05-Black Scoter Telemetry in New Brunswick | Dr. Ford assists Dr. Glenn Olsen, Matthew Perry, and other researchers in capture and implantation of satellite transmitters in wild black scoters in Canada.
| | 2009-06-Konner the Falcon Back on the Job | In January, All Creatures Animal Hospital of Bremerton, Washington called me to consult on a tiercel falcon that had sustained multiple fractures...
| | 2009-09-Banding Scoter in North Puget Sound |
| | 2010-02-Seaduck Postop Care Research | The Sea Duck Joint Venture funded a research project by Dr. Ford into post-operative care techniques for long-tailed ducks and black scoter receiving satellite transmitter implants.
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