For the Birds: A Short Review of "Saving Pelican 895"

Gerald Herbert/AP

"Saving Pelican 895" provided more perspective for me about how the Gulf Oil Spill affected more than just human lives. It tainted the ecosystem and had a more drastic effect on animals. I was intrigued by the film's take on rescuing wildlife, how it demonstrated the reality that saving and nursing animals back to health after a disaster like the Gulf Oil Spill isn't such an easy job.

The focus of the documentary into the rescue of Pelican 895 was a brilliant way to captivate the audience and making rescuing wildlife a more intimate and personal process. Five steps are involved in rehabilitating the pelicans back to a healthy state for release back into the wild. The pelican is taken into the triage unit after being captured into care, the intake process, rehabilitation (which takes the longest depending on the bird's adaptation), the release evaluation, and finally, release day.

The rehab portion of the rescue is the most painstaking, but most intriguing. The volunteers care for them, but maintain the motto that the pelicans must "retake or gain a wilderness about them." I also find it interesting that they don't name the pelicans once they're taken in. Instead, they're labeled by state and number. But, I get it. It's too easy to get attached to something you've cared for.

Jay Holcomb, the rehabilitation manager said, "It doesn't mean everyone should wash a bird, but they should support it."

After watching the documentary, I completely agree.

Here's a podcast from NPR evaluating the economic value of the pelican: