This is my post for #freewriters 2250 prompt I've grown a wing hosted by @mariannewest
The sick pelicans are one thing that suffered after the net ban was passed in 1995. There were four fish houses along the river and every one of them had several pelicans that were sick or only had one wing. They are the only ones that the fishermen feed when weighing their catch.
In the above photo, you can see the pelican with his wings spread, he will never be able to fly again. Over the years in my heart of hearts I've grown a wing for them all.
In the winter, they suffered the most. I do not know if it was because there were more people here in the winter and more birds were getting hooked or if it was the weather.
When someone hooks a bird the first thing they try to do is break the line. If it does break you not only leave a hook in the bird but also leave him dragging 50 or more yards of line which when he goes to roost in a tree will tangle around the branch and the bird dies a slow horrible death from stravation. So please carefully reel him in grab him by the beak and take the hook out.
Some of the one wing pelicans broke their wing by flying into pylons and sailboat masts.
The brown pelicans live here year-round but the white ones are like the people and only come for the winter.
This is Walter, he lives up the creek and knows us well. He would follow us all day and at the end of the day, my husband would give him plenty of fish to fill his belly. He did this because Walter kept his distance and did not try to steal our fish like the others tried to do.
photos are mine
