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Brown Pelicans 269

Figure­16.3­ Three downy chicks beginning to grow contour feathers.

beak; “hissing” may also occur. The adult will settle over the chick fairly quickly. Pairs or single
adults will foster.
Older chicks are best kept in groups with adult foster parents as role models. The number in each
group depends on aviary size. In addition, be aware that young pelicans can become quite aggres-
sive in their feeding techniques, often overwhelming adults or older juveniles with their anxiety to
feed. This is a dangerous situation for both the chicks and adults, and is a reason to not use debili-
tated adults in rehabilitation as foster parents.
A slow introduction technique through a joint aviary fence needs to be used when introducing
large groups of displaced pelican chicks, such as when a rookery island is destroyed after a hurri-
cane. These pelicans tend to be traumatized by rescue and transportation issues and may have
been in a large group for at least several days. After Hurricane Dennis in 2004, fifty 6–10‐week‐old
pelican chicks were raised. The chicks were divided into three age‐specific groups in aviaries that
shared a common fence with foster adults. As night approached at the end of the first day, the
chicks settled down to sleep against the common fence and the adults settled down next to the
chicks on their side of the fence. By the next day, a calm and successful introduction was possible
(Figure 16.4).
If no foster care is available: try to find a sibling. This reduces the chance of imprinting or habitu-
ation; if none are available, strict guidelines and protocols should be put into place. See Chapter 15
for additional ideas regarding how to keep wild chicks wild.
Limit handling: Set a feeding schedule and have very limited personnel work with the chicks.
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Wear a costume and mask: Head and body should be covered when changing and feeding. Most
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pelicans self‐feed when fish is placed on the ground if over 3 weeks of age, so interactions can be
minimal. Set fish on a plate (count or weigh) to be changed out at each feeding.
Feed with puppets: PHSS has used pelican stuffed toys or handmade puppets to put with nestlings
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if no other siblings were available and also to feed. One trick used was to cut open the mouth of
the stuffed toy and put a small bowl of fish in it and sometimes chicks would eat from it. Take
care the chick doesn’t ingest any stuffed animal parts.
Keep in a group: A singleton habituates to humans very easily. PHSS has had success (without
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foster parents) in raising orphaned pelicans for release.