A pair of brown pelicans get a good look at each other in the small pelican aviary at the International Bird Rescue Research Center in San Pedro, where about 130 sick birds were being treated. Eight rehabilitated pelicans were released Friday. (Genaro Molina / Los Angeles Times)
Rehabilitation manager Julie King comforts a pelican she captured inside the big pelican aviary. The bird was to be released after recovering from malnutrition. (Genaro Molina / Los Angeles Times)
Most of the pelicans admitted to the center were emaciated juveniles discovered in the last two months in a variety of unexpected places from Long Beach to Santa Barbara. (Genaro Molina / Los Angeles Times)
King examines an injured wing. The center’s executive director, Jay Holcomb, said the high number of ailing birds is actually a good sign,” indicating that pelicans were producing lots of young. (Genaro Molina / Los Angeles Times)
King extracts blood. It costs about $20 a day to rehabilitate a single pelican. (Genaro Molina / Los Angeles Times)
Intern Susan Peebles tries to net a brown pelican. After being scooped up, the eight birds were placed inside dog crates for transport by van to nearby Cabrillo Beach, where they were set free. (Genaro Molina / Los Angeles Times)
King gets a grip on one of the pelicans with the help of Peebles. (Genaro Molina / Los Angeles Times)
Joann Baker, a volunteer at the research center, watches the birds take off at the boat launch area at Cabrillo Beach. (Genaro Molina / Los Angeles Times)
The pelicans fly off into the wild and minutes later begin hunting for food. “That’s a real good sign,” King said. (Genaro Molina / Los Angeles Times)
