<\/p>\n
One of the rehabilitated pelicans flies near the Huntington Beach Pier.<\/p>\n
(Allen J. Schaben \/ Los Angeles Times)<\/p>\n
The release was held just south of the pier, with community members invited to watch. <\/p>\n
\u201cThis is always a special moment \u2014 not just for our team and volunteers who worked tirelessly to save these birds, but for the community as well,\u201d said Debbie McGuire, executive director of the wildlife nonprofit. \u201cWatching them take flight is a powerful reminder of why our work matters.\u201d <\/p>\n
Huntington Beach junior lifeguards volunteered at the event, according to a news release from the center, unzipping the cages on the beach to allow the birds to waddle out to shore. <\/p>\n
<\/p>\n
Junior lifeguards take part in a pier swim as the birds are released on Wednesday.<\/p>\n
(Allen J. Schaben \/ Los Angeles Times)<\/p>\n
The event was mostly successful, according to Jaratt Dazey, the volunteer coordinator for the wildlife group. After the birds were released, most of them took flight \u2014 but two remained on the sand. The pair were taken back to the center\u2019s veterinary facilities for more treatment, Dazey said. <\/p>\n
\u201cOverall, though, the release went well,\u201d he said. \u201cThey came out of the cages, they sat on the sand for a few minutes, and they all took off and flew together.\u201d <\/p>\n
The 13 pelicans had been poisoned by domoic acid, a toxin that occurs in algal blooms, which fish can consume. Marine animals can then become poisoned if they eat the contaminated fish, causing abnormal behaviors and seizures, Dazey said. <\/p>\n
<\/p>\n
The birds released Wednesday were among about 200 treated by the Wetlands and Wildlife Care Center in Huntington Beach during the recent algal bloom.<\/p>\n
(Allen J. Schaben \/ Los Angeles Times)<\/p>\n
This is the fourth year that a dangerous algal bloom has occurred in Southern California, but this year\u2019s was especially threatening, as the Los Angeles Times previously reported. <\/p>\n
A number of sickened sea lions were reported<\/a>, with one surfer encountering one that he called \u201cferal, almost demonic.<\/a>\u201d The Marine Mammal Care Center in San Pedro reported at the end of May a possible end to \u201cthe longest, most toxic, and deadliest bloom we\u2019ve ever experienced.\u201d<\/p>\n The Wetlands and Wildlife Care Center rescued nearly 200 seabirds in total, which Dazey said was an abnormally large number. <\/p>\n Levels of toxic algae along the coast<\/a> of Southern California had begun to decline by early June. <\/p>\n The toxic algae blooms can be caused by water and wind patterns as well as an overproduction of nutrients in the water, which can \u201coverfeed\u201d algae colonies and lead them to grow out of control, according to<\/a> the National Ocean Service.<\/p>\n