04/06/2025
I have been rescuing pelicans since 1986. For many years there have been red tide and domoic acid outbreaks. This can be caused by the illegal dumping of fertilizers into waterways or by the naturally occurring upwelling of nutrient rich water coulombs.
Never in the decades of rescuing have I seen anything like this year's red tide.
For centuries after harvest, farmers around the world would burn their crops to replenish their land with potash, a natural fertilizer from the ash.
After the LA fires and the following rains, so much toxic runoff washed into the ocean that a huge and deadly red tide formed off Malibu and spread along the coast.
This runoff created a red tide that infiltrated the food chain. Domoic acid is a byproduct that works its way into the fat and oils of fish. The animals that ingested the affected fish become sickened with DA poisoning. This leads to neurological disorders, histopathologic lesions, hemorrhages, and necrosis of the skeletal muscle. Pelicans, dolphins, whales, seals, sea lions, and thousands of other marine birds, have died a horrible death from this poisoning. Some affected marine life seemed to have gone mad. Sea lions and dolphins have attacked surfers and swimmers. Pelicans were falling from the sky mid flight crashing into moving cars on Pacific Coast Highway. We would find and rescue pelicans who flew inland all the way to Downtown LA completely lost and disoriented. Whales died and dolphins beached themselves.
It was heartbreaking to see the coast littered with sick and dying animals only to rush them to hospital as many would pass away during the trip.
I made a video of the first 5 hours during one of last week's rescues. That day 27 birds were found dead and dying as we did our best to bring them to safety.
It's been a tough month.
Sorry about the depressing email. Wanted to let you know what has been taking place off our coast.
https://youtu.be/Po6CUKTzxLI
Thank you for helping us help the pelicans and other marine animals.
Pelican Rescue.
www.pelican-rescue.org
Seabirds may indicate the status of habitat, reduction in food occurrence and abundance, rate of the predation, an effect of weather (climate change), and threats. We are dedicated to the rescue of sick, injured or orphaned seabirds and pelicans.
