MAYPORT, Fla. – Dozens of pelicans have died along Florida's east coast, and experts suspect that cold-weather stress may be to blame.
According to Terry Doonan, a wildlife biologist with the Florida Fish and Wildlife Conservation Commission (FWC), the birds will be tested to determine the cause of these deaths.
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"This has happened almost every winter for the past 10 years," Doonan said. "During a previous die-off, the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service sent birds for testing, but no toxins or chemicals were found. However, we will be picking up birds today to take to the University of Florida lab for necropsies, to see if we can determine what is killing these animals."
The FWC has checked with the Department of Environmental Protection and with the U.S. Coast Guard and have confirmed that no spills or chemical leaks have been reported in the Mayport or St. Johns River areas in recent weeks.
"We believe that although it is a good idea to test these birds, that this is a natural phenomenon that occurs almost every winter in Florida," Doonan explained.
Phil Wieczynski, chief of DEP's Bureau of Emergency Response, is interested in determining if the death of these birds was caused by a toxic substance.
"We have no records of any significant spills in the past few weeks and are at a loss for what could be causing this," he said. "We are aware of a spill from a U.S. naval vessel Jan. 11. There were 2,700 gallons of light fuel product spilled. However, this was extremely well contained and cleaned up quickly. We do not believe this has anything to do with the birds that began dying three weeks later."
DEP and FWC staff have been coordinating efforts in the last few days, working with law enforcement officers to pick up dead birds in the Mayport area Tuesday morning. DEP is also testing the water.
The surviving birds near Jacksonville appear to have been stripped of the natural oils that coat their feathers, effectively waterproofing the birds and protecting them from cold winters. Doonan said the emaciated birds might be reluctant to plunge into the cold water to feed, choosing instead to stay dry on the shore.
"Although we need to see what sort of test results we get back, there may be another explanation for the lack of oil in the birds' feathers," Doonan said. "A weakened bird may not preen, which distributes oil to the feathers. A bird that has been buffeted by storms, unable to feed in its normal pattern, and is not preening properly can lead to a downward spiral."
Volunteers worked with a bird sanctuary over the weekend to help numerous birds. About 150 birds are being cared for by the Bird Emergency Aid and Kare Sanctuary.
Anyone interested in volunteering is asked to call BEAKS at (904) 251-2473.
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