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Pelican Harbor Seabird Station | Summer 2016 Newsletter
1279 NE 79th Street Causeway Miami, FL 33138
|
305-751-9840 |
www.pelicanharbor.org
Double Your Donation with the Batchelor Foundation Matching Grant!
There has never been a better time to support the Pelican Harbor Seabird Station with a
gift than right now! The Batchelor Foundation will double your donation if you act now. $5
becomes $10, $25 becomes $50, $100 becomes $200 and so on.
We have raised $24,000 towards the $70,000 goal. The summer is a very lean time for us,
as our snow bird friends are back up north and many of our locals are traveling with family.
In fact, we typically raise less than 25% of our annual operating budget during the six
months of the second and third quarters, between April and September. That’s half of the
year with only a quarter of the funds needed to operate our 36 year old wildlife hospital.
As a non-profit, we rely solely on donations and grants to meet the ever increasing needs.
On May 24, we received our 1100th patient of the year and we currently have 69 patients in
the clinic. If you can give a gift today, please do so to help us reach our goal. Anything helps.
2-Hour Sunset Cruise for the Station
Upcoming Saturday Tour Dates
June 18 | July 16
August 13
Our 2-hour sunset birding cruise
includes a stop at the largest bird
rookery in the county, where up to
34 species of birds have been observed (including baby pelicans).
Passengers will also see a stunning
sunset and take in the beauty of
twilight as darkness falls across Biscayne Bay and the lights of the
magic city turn on. Tickets are $40
per person and can be purchased
at Peliclanharbor.org, our Facebook
events page, or by phoning the station. Grab your sweetheart, friends
or family and come join us. Private
cruises may also be arranged from
$800 (20-40 passengers).
Owls, Owls and More Owls
Everyone knows that love is in the air during spring and for many birds that means nests
and babies. So spring means we receive tons of calls about baby birds on the ground and
hundreds of babies (blue jays, mocking birds, woodpeckers, owls, and hawks to name a
few) are brought into the Station. Some have fallen from the nest, some nests have fallen
from the tree, and some babies are just doing what nature intended and spending a few
days on the ground before they become fully flighted. If a baby on the ground is fully
feathered and the parents are flying around protecting and feeding it, and if the baby is in
a safe place, please leave it alone and let the parents finish raising it. The parents always
do the best job and are the baby’s best chance of survival. Sometimes the little ones are
injured or in a dangerous place maybe near a street or in a neighborhood full of cats or renesting is not an option then they do need our help, as was the case for the 23 Eastern
Screech Owls babies we have received so far this season.
The first baby owl of the season was rescued by an FWC officer in February from a site
near downtown Miami. The nest was nowhere in sight and the owl was clearly too young
to be out on his own. Fortunately, we found no injuries so basic care and training was all
that was required. Basic care and training includes preparing a species-specific diet, hand
feeding the little guy and then “Mouse School”. Owls are birds of prey and must hunt for
their dinner. Mom and Dad usually teach the babies how to hunt but without the parents,
that responsibility falls on us. We provide live mice in a legally-sized flight cage and hope
their natural hunting instinct takes over. Their weight is carefully monitored as is the number of mice we place in the cage to ensure the little owls are catching and eating the prey.
This owl was released at the Miami Shores Country Club after spending 65 days with us.
In late March, we received three very young owls. They were found on the ground at Fairchild Tropical Botanic Garden and the
nest could not be found. These babies were so young that their eyes were still closed and were covered in fluffy white baby
feathers. The babies were cold which is never a good thing and covered in parasites. Babies that young, even those still with
the parents in the nest, have a high mortality rate and require a lot of care. Babies can easily become imprinted, meaning they
get used to people and see us as a source of food. Once imprinted, they cannot be released as they would not act appropriately and feed themselves. So we take extra care not to handle them too much and when we do have to interact, we wear
masks to cover our faces so they do not imprint on us. Small babies must be fed at least four times a day. Despite the rough
start, against all odds, these three owls are doing great and are about to start mouse school.
As of now 16 owls are awaiting mouse school. Raising babies takes a lot of time and a lot of food. Currently we use about 20
mice a day! Soon these owls will be on their way back into the wild.
Lights, Camera, Action!
It was a normal, busy day at the Station when we received a call from Capt. Stan. “One
of my boats called in a pelican hanging from the Haulover bridge, you guys might need
some help getting it, though you will need a boat— one small, yet big enough to be
able to reach him over by the waterway. He was spotted earlier this morning but we
can confirm now that the pelican is definitely stuck.”
Rescue and Release Coordinator Carla and intern Kira rushed to the scene and called
Haulover Ocean Rescue along the way to request assistance. Once on the scene, they
noticed the entangled pelican right away and Captain Stan was right, there was no way
for the PHSS team to reach him safely.
Ocean Rescue arrived with a jet ski with an attached platform. After a brief strategy
session, the plan was set into motion. Lt. Marcos Orquera stayed with the PHSS Team
while communicating by radio with Axel Decamillis and Douglas Martinez, the team on
the jet ski. They made their way over to the bridge and Decamillis climbed up the
slimy, barnacle infested structure while Martinez held position in the strong current.
When Decamillis successfully reached the top of the structure, the already frightened
Brown Pelican tried to fly away and began to snap at his rescuer. Decamillis managed
to secure his beak and cut him free, only to find there wasn’t a ladder to get down. Lt.
Orquera spotted a break in the boat traffic and Martinez cruised around protectively
while Decamillis jumped into the water with the pelican. After what seemed an eternity, both Decamillis and the pelican surfaced together. Decamillis climbed onto the jet
ski platform and off they went to the rendezvous point. The pelican was handed off
safely to the PHSS team who rushed back to the Station where Dr. Beth Hirschfeld and
Rehabilitation Manager Yaritza were able to give him an exam and any necessary treatment. They found a significant wound that required cleaning and suturing, and removed a large hook from his wing.
This story has a happy ending because so many decided to drop everything to help.
The crew of the Therapy called their boss, Capt. Stan to report the good news about
the bird. Capt. Stan, a true friend of the pelicans, initially reached out. Ocean Rescue
braved strong currents, heavy boat traffic, and a snappy, frightened pelican. It would
have been easy to just ignore the bird, not make the call or play it safe— but thanks to
all these folks this pelican has a second chance at life. To top it all off, this amazing
rescue was captured by Channel 7 news and the link to the story can be found on our
Facebook Page along with other photos and stories about wildlife rescue in Miami.
Eagle Scout Project by Bruno Rojas, Troop 305
Eagle Scout candidate Bruno Rojas chose to renovate the outside
mews at PHSS as his Eagle Scout Project. The renovations were completed in March after many hours of planning and physical labor. Bruno and his team from Troop 305 worked in the hot sun to update the
outside mews and provide a safe space for us to rehab songbirds.
They replaced the roof, poured cement around the bottom and installed fencing below ground to help pest proof the cages, and installed proper screening to protect the bird’s feathers as they heal
from their injuries as well as many other improvements. We are so
thankful for Bruno’s efforts and the hard work of the Eagle Scout
Team. The first batch of baby songbirds that were raised in the updated mews were released in the Biscayne Park Bird Sanctuary on May 25
with the mayor and several commissioners. The crowd marveled in
delight as three mocking birds, one blue jay and a red-bellied woodpecker flew out into the wild and perched in the many trees that
make Biscayne Park such a special place.
Pelican Party Gala Raises $137,000 for Injured Wildlife
We celebrated our 36th Anniversary during Pelican Party at the Miami Shores Country Club on
April 30th. The event, which was attended by over 270 people raised $137,000 towards our annual budget of $466,000 dollars. Everyone agreed it was our most enjoyable Pelican Party to
date. This year’s event, which was a cocktail party format, kicked off the program with the release of three eastern screech owls at sunset. Channel 10’s morning news anchor and animal
advocate Jacey Birch emceed the event. The Darlene Kelton Heart & Soul Award was presented
to Board Member Harvey Ruvin, Miami-Dade County Clerk of the Court. The Volunteer of the
Year Award was presented to Marilyn Magill, who serves on the Board of Directors and the Pelican Party Host Committee, as well as volunteering with us every Sunday.
A Pelican Pal Award was presented to Oskar Garcia who donated $1,005 to the Seabird Station
from the sale of bird calendars he sold to his teachers, neighbors & friends. Oskar also held his
12th birthday party on the Pelican Skipper to benefit us & insisted that all 40 of his guests bring
donations or gifts for the pelicans and owls here at the station. Oskar made local and national
news in 2008 at the age of six for raising money to send 169 bottles of Dawn dishwashing liquid
to relief workers rescuing oiled birds on the front lines of the DeepWater Horizon Gulf Oil Spill!
Oskar’s philanthropic efforts don’t end there. He’s working on several projects this summer to
continue raising funds to help us rescue injured birds. Follow us on Facebook for updates on
Oskar’s summer fundraising projects.
It was such a wonderful evening of celebration & camaraderie among donors, volunteers, interns, board members, & staff. We are very grateful to all the sponsors and auction donors who
made the event such a big success. A special thanks also to the following for purchasing 10+
tickets to the event: North Miami Woman’s Club, Ray Chasser, Charity Services Center, James
Bay. We would like to extend a very special thank you to all the volunteers who gave up their
day and evening to ensure the event was a success. THANK YOU!
Photos from Left to Right
Christopher Boykin (Executive Director), Harry Kelton (Founder) & Dr. Beth Hirschfeld, DVM
Oskar Garcia age 6 during oil campaign & age 12 at Pelican Party
Marilyn Magill receiving award from Rescue & Release Coordinator, Carla Zapeda
Harvey Ruvin speaking after receiving his award
Emcee, Jacey Birch, with husband Trent Aric Meteorologist
A Special Thanks to our Pelican Party Sponsors
BROWN PELICAN LEVEL
WHITE IBIS LEVEL - $1,000+
$10,000+
Animal Eye Specialty Clinic
The Modern Local
The Deeks Family Foundation
Hope Springs Solutions
Oskar Garcia
Joao Ramon Perez
Parks Foundation of Miami-Dade
Katie Comer
Sally Phillips
Miami Beach
Town of Surfside
Dr. Mark McGovern
Miami Dade County
Dr. Paula Kislack
Tom Jackson
SANDERLING LEVEL - $500+
MAGNIFICENT FRIGATEBIRD LEVEL
$5,000+
Alan Russel Kahn
Judith Anderson
Bay Harbor Islands
Julie Zaias, DVM, Ph. D.
Making Projects Work, Inc.
Beverly & Darren Steinbook
Marilyn Magill & Bob Welsh
In Memory of Laura L. Morgan
Carol F. Keys, Esq.
Miami Shores Village
City of South Miami
North Miami Florida
YELLOW-CROWNED NIGHT HERON
LEVEL - $2,500
David L.. Webb and W. Lynn
Pinecrest Veterinary Hospital
McLaughlin
R House
Biscayne Times
Hirschfield Veterinary Consulting
Simone Mayer & Mayda Perez
Florida Propane Exchange
In Memory of Silvia A. Escobar
Thank you also to our many Silent Auction Donors
Aquatic Rental Center
Disney
Bikram Yoga Central Miami
Doris Robinson
Bikram Yoga North Miami
Duffy's Tavern
Caitlyn Bom
Eco Adventures
Marilyn Magill
Steve Siegel
Miami Beach Rowing Club
Suzanne Beard
Miami Shores Country Club
Terry Denton
The Barnacle
Camp Live Oak
Eve Cater
Miami-Dade County
Captain Pete Frezza
Fairchild Tropical Botanic
Garden
Orange Theory Miami Shores
Titanic Brewing Company
Paddy Cunningham
Total Wine & More
Captain Stan Saffan
Carol Garvin
Carol Keys
Cason Photography
Center for Great Apes
Commissioner Sally Heyman
Commissioner Tina Paul, Surfside
Corkscrew Swamp Sanctuary
David Carmona, DVM Surfside
Veterinary Wellness Center
Florida Bay Outfitters
Helen Brady
Pelican Harbor Marina
Hirschfeld Veterinary Cons.
Ramon Casares
I Paddle Miami
Red Salon
Jan & Silvia bag by Helen
Red Market Salon
Judi Hamelburg
Judy Mishcon
Justin Molis
Lynne Hyde
Dawn Starling
Maid Green
Deli Lane
Marc Kramer/Eliana Ardila
Rianne Thomas
Rodney White
Russel Breiner
SailBoards Miami Watersports
Sustainable Performance Solutions
The New Yorker Hotel
Tropical Audubon Society
Wyland Foundation
Xavier Cortada
Yankee Freedom
Mission - Pelican Harbor Seabird Station is dedicated to the rescue, rehabilitation and release of sick, injured or
orphaned brown pelicans, seabirds and other native wildlife and the preservation and protection of these
species through educational and scientific means.
This newsletter was printed at a cost of
27 cents each using recycled content.
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our mailing list, please email us at [email protected]
Pelican Harbor Seabird Station
1279 NE 79th St. Causeway
Miami, FL 33138
Volunteer Spotlight - Oshi Sandrusy
Tiny “Tearers”
Despite only volunteering for a few
brief months, Oshi
Sandrusy picked up
on PHSS volunteer
duties
instantly
without
needing
much guidance from
staff. She is one of
the most dependable volunteers we
have, and even went
out of her way to
help represent us at
Miami Beach PRIDE
last month. She did
a wonderful job giving the station some
exposure at this
event by networking with the crowd. Oshi also participated
in our Pelican Party event and was a huge help with setting
up and guest check-in. We are extremely fortunate to have
Oshi as part of our team, and hope she continues volunteering with us for years to come!
The
common
name
“vulture” comes from its
Latin roots “to tear” and is a
reference to their feeding
habits. Early in March, longtime volunteer Neil Krasner
stumbled upon a large nest
on the ground with two
eggs wedged in between
the pens behind Pelican
Harbor. After careful observation, the staff deduced
that the eggs belonged to
black vultures! This was the
very first time in recorded
history that Pelican Harbor
had wild vultures nest on
the property. The babies
hatched on March 7th, and
have been growing at an exponential rate ever since. As the
weeks go by, the fledglings have become more and more adventurous, roaming the property frequently. We’ve also noticed that
their presence has drawn in more wild birds here at the station.
Stop by for a tour soon to check out these young ones before
they fly the coop!