Birds on The Line: Scoop the White Pelican

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

Nigel, the White Pelican

Nigel, the White Pelican, was found on December 3 2013, in a field near Macon, MO. He then was brought to the MU Vet school raptor rehab, and transferred to the World Bird Sanctuary's wildlife hospital. 

Nigel in his evening quarters, in the Wildlife Hospital.

 Nigel had suffered a right wing injury, his left leg had an old fracture and he was very thin. It was touch and go for many weeks until he was able to gain some weight, but now he is on his way to recovery. Unfortunately he will not be able to recover 100% because the old leg break won’t let that leg fully function, so he will be placed at another facility to live out his days. 

Nigel in his physical therapy water tub

White Pelicans are found on inland bodies of water in North America. They are an aquatic species, preferring to be on the open water for most of the day, feeding on primarily fish. They are not a small bird by any standards, having the second largest average wingspan of any North American Bird and having one of the largest bills of any bird on Earth! They migrate for winter, following major rivers, from as far north as central Canada, to the Saint Louis area and all the way to the Gulf of Mexico.  
 

Scoop, an unreleaseable White Pelican that calls World Bird Sanctuary home

Most days Nigel can be found in the main room of the hospital standing around preening and eating fish. Nigel also receives acupuncture once a week at St. Louis Hills Veterinary Clinic, which is also helping to increase the range of motion in his leg.  He also receives physical therapy.  Nigel is put in a small pool so he can stretch and work on moving and using his left leg. He also enjoys snapping at and carrying on with the swan that is in rehab.  They aren't too sure of what to think of one another, but they do seem to enjoy having each other’s company.  

Submitted by Adam Triska, Supervisor

Survivors

Since the World Bird Sanctuary was founded in 1976 we have released four pelicans, one Trumpeter Swan, and six Great Blue Herons.  We have admitted twenty-three White Pelicans, about forty Great Blue Herons, and eleven Trumpeter Swans.  The swans are rare birds that are considered species of concern. 

Volunteer Bob Warbin hand feeding an injured White Pelican

You may ask why we have released so few of these birds.  The main reason is that they are survivors.  When they get injured they may live with that injury for a year or two until they are literally on their last leg.  They often arrive at the door of the World Bird Sanctuary wildlife hospital starving and emaciated, many times with a broken wing that has healed crooked and is not fixable.  We hand feed them and nurse them back to health and then we find them a home with us or another wildlife facility around the country. 

We are proud of the birds that recover to be released--even if those individuals are rare.  The others that remain with us or that are re-homed to other wildlife facilities may breed, and in return their babies will be released into the wild to increase their populations. 

Keep your eyes open for these birds near rivers, lakes, and ponds.  Several hundred Trumpeter Swans can be seen during winter months, near Alton, IL.

Submitted by Joe Hoffmann, Sanctuary Manager, World Bird Sanctuary