Rehabilitated Pelicans Released on Sanibel Island today!

Oiled pelicans from Louisiana were flown to Sanibel Island this morning for release into the pristine waters off Sanibel Island.  A special Coast Guard flight left New Orleans around 7 a.m. and landed at Page Field in Fort Myers about 11 a.m.  The pelicans were taken to Gulfside City Park on Sanibel Island for release.  All the birds were successfully rehabilitated after being rescued from the oil spill in the gulf.

We were fortunate to have The Castaways' Assistant Manager, Bob Pitt, on hand to witness the release and photograph the birds' freedom flight out into the Gulf of Mexico.

A crowd gathered on the beach as wildlife officials brought the crates containing the rehabilitated pelicans to the edge of the beach. They opened the crates and the pelicans instantly took flight to the rush of applause from the onlookers.






Here on Sanibel Island, we feel very lucky that our waters and beaches have been spared from damage due to the Deep Water Horizon oil spill. We hope more rehabilitated wildlife from the affected regions of the Gulf will be able to call the unspoiled beaches of Sanibel Island home as they begin their path to recovery.