7 Pelicans Released Back Into The Wild

ST. PETERSBURG, FL — As local and state wildlife experts continue to investigate the mysterious deaths of pelicans in the Coffee Pot Bayou area, the city of St. Petersburg has announced the return of seven rehabilitated birds back into the wild.

The release of the seven brown pelicans back into a rookery near Snell Isle was announced by the city late Thursday.

“I’m happy with that,” Kris Porter of Owl’s Nest Sanctuary for Wildlife said in a statement. Porter and her team helped nurse the pelicans back to health after nearly 70 were found sick or dead following a fish kill near Riviera Bay.

On Jan. 15, the city posted warning signs as a precaution against swimming or fishing in waters in the Coffee Pot Bayou and Riviera Bay areas. Those signs were later removed after water testing showed samples were within the accepted levels for recreational use.

“Studies by the Florida Fish and Wildlife Conservation Commission and Arcadis, an independent firm hired by the city, continue,” the city said in an email. “Those results are expected within the week. So far, tests have ruled out a number of possibilities, but no specific reason has been found.”

Porter, who has worked with wildlife for more than 40 years, said it is possible the deaths are due to natural causes. The nearby fish kill and ongoing red tide concerns may also be factors.

“It seems that we see pelican issues every January, but I’m just happy to have these birds better," Porter said.

The city intends to release more information when toxicology and in-depth water testing reports come back.

Photo by Matthias Liffers via Flickr used under Creative Commons/secondary photo courtesy of the City of St. Petersburg