For today’s walk down
the line I would like to introduce you to a bird that has a great nickname and
seemingly loves to show off during our summer concert series. This is none other than Scoop the White
Pelican, or as he is nicknamed, “Super Scoop”.
Do you feel you’re being watched? (photo: Cathy Spahn)
Scoop is an American White
Pelican, Pelecanus erythrorhynchos. He was rescued from a pond in West
Alton, MO, near Ameren Missouri’s Portage des Sioux Energy Center in October
2004. Scoop managed to survive for
3 months without the ability to fly.
He had to be rescued when winter weather approached.
Meet Scoop—sporting the distinctive
“horn” on top of his bill which only appears during breeding season, and is then
shed later in the year. (photo: Gay Schroer)
Upon examining Scoop our
veterinarian, Dr. Stacey Schaefer, found the bird’s shoulder had been badly
broken, healed improperly, and now required the tip of the wing to be
amputated. Scoop now has his home
in one of our outdoor avian exhibits.
He has adapted well to life at World Bird Sanctuary and is a visitor
favorite. If you are lucky enough
to see him fully open his bill, you will quickly understand how he got his
name. It takes a lot of fish to
fill the pouch below that will!!
Scoop has a very distinct
“personality”. He challenges his
trainers, but once you have set up a relationship with him and are a part of
his flock he will follow you like a big puppy dog.
Scoop has learned
that if he hits his target (the blocks or his stick) he will be rewarded with a
tasty treat (photo: Gay Schroer)
Scoop is trained with
positive reinforcement to “target” to special perches and a stick with a tennis
ball on it. He will follow that
stick anywhere as long as you have some fish for him. However, when training, you must always pay close attention
to Scoop. If you ignore him, even
for a second, he likes to remind you of what you are doing and will whack you
with that long bill. That bill
does not look fearsome, but pelicans have sharp edges on the sides of the bill
to help them hold onto fish, and the tip of the bill has a hook to it. So when he whacks you, yes it does
hurt. I do not know how many times
that has happened and people always ask “Does that hurt?” My answer—yes it does. Think of two razors hitting your arm
and you will have some approximation of what it feels like.
Scoop and his friend Mudflap in their
breeding colors (photo: Cathy Spahn)
Scoop lives with his
friend Mudflap. He is protective
of Mudflap and they can be seen sitting together, swimming together and also
vocalizing. Please stop by and see
these amazing birds the next time you visit WBS.
As with all of our
resident animals, Scoop is available for adoption in our Adopt A Bird program. Your adoption fee will help feed, house
and care for Scoop in the coming year.
To adopt Scoop Click Here to go to the Adopt A Bird program on our
website—or call 636-861-325 and ask for Marion to set up an Adopt A Bird over
the phone.
Submitted by Cathy Spahn,
World Bird Sanctuary Naturalist
No comments:
Post a Comment