(not) a baby pelican

meg called me from santa barbara to tell me that she had found a baby pelican in the middle of the road after the weekend of hard rain, and furthermore that she was bringing it with her. when she showed up i informed her that the above pictured bird was not a "baby"! it was a first year, or in people terms, a 16 yr old-not quite adult, not really helpless. we then drove it to her father (a veterinarian) in san diego. the bird seemed healthy but oddly calm. it was very relaxed on its first car ride. we fed it a little that night-as evidenced by the second photo-and after giving it a once over Dr. Kaiser took it to sea world where they rescue marine animals.

apparently after large storms with lots of run off entering the wetlands and coastal areas the fish behave differently and the adolescent birds have a hard time coping. it is likely the bird was starving and disoriented. so as crazy as it seemed at the time meg actually did the best thing possible and probably saved the bird. she is an odd, and good hearted woman, my wife. so that's the story of henrietta the pelican from santa barbara.

p.s. i finally got rid of the mites that came with the bird so you can once again hug me when you see me.