Gulf Pier at Fort De Soto Park juts out almost 1,000 feet into the vast ocean of bright blue. Pods of dolphins surround the pier, hunting and playing. Oftentimes, the dolphins leap gracefully into the air as guests gasp and point in amazement. Manatees poke their noses out of the clear water, taking a giant inhale before descending back beneath the surface. Pelicans, shorebirds, herons, and white egrets act as if the pier is their own: squawking, hunting, and soaring high above. Volunteering at Fort De Soto Park was an incredible experience. Waking up bright and early every Sunday morning to drive myself to the park was something I looked forward to every weekend. Spending those mornings in paradise while connecting with, helping, and educating people on the Pier exceeded any expectations I had prior to the commitment and I found myself learning so much in the process.
When I first committed to the position as an “Official Manatee Observer,” I had no idea of the problems that the park rangers face on a daily basis. The job description of the “Official Manatee Observer” was to patrol Gulf Pier, ensuring that present manatees remain undisturbed. Visitors to the park often try to proceed toward manatees even though it is against the law to do anything that changes the manatees’ natural behavior. This position was created in response to an outlandish occurrence that took place by a visitor in the past. A photo was posted online of a Saint Petersburg local who was “riding” a manatee which is not only illegal but incredibly unethical.
After my first volunteer shift on Gulf Pier, it immediately became clear that there are more problems at Gulf Pier than manatee harassment alone. Gulf Pier is known as a recreational fishing pier which in itself comes with its own set of issues. Seabirds are constantly getting hooked and entangled by active fishers off of the pier. Oftentimes, frustrated fishers would rather opt to cut the line than to free the bird, leaving it entangled and helpless until it starves to death. Before my volunteer experience at Gulf Pier, I had never touched a bird in my life. Now, I am confident in my ability to properly and carefully handle entangled pelicans and problem solve on the spot to ensure that they are properly rescued and treated.
One rescue experience sticks with me the most out of them all. A cormorant, which is a smaller black bird, had multiple hooks and lures in its wings and fishing line hanging out from its beak. The rangers and I knew that it must have swallowed a fishing hook. Entangled cormorants are a much different story than pelicans. Pelicans are very docile, making them easy to handle. But, cormorants will not hesitate to snap at anyone who gets too close. Unfortunately, this cormorant was perched far out on the rock jetty throughout a couple days of strong currents and rough waves, putting our rescue mission on hold. Once the waters calmed, some helpful tourists and I, after multiple attempts, were able to collaborate and capture the cormorant in order to get it the help that it needed.
The bird was brought to “Birds in Helping Hands,” which is a local wildlife rescue and rehabilitation organization. Their team transported the cormorant who was in clear distress to Busch Gardens where X-ray images were taken to expose exactly what had been ingested. It was found that two treble hooks and large weighted lures were embedded in the small birds’ stomach. It was a horrific sight to see and truly opened my eyes to the suffering that animals endure in silence. Luckily, the cormorant had a successful surgery. I was lucky enough to release the cormorant to Redington Pier which has been closed off to humans, making it the perfect place for birds to stay out of harm's way. Watching that bird fly away, having been given a second chance, was truly an incredible feeling.
To solve the problem of seabird injuries and deaths via entanglement, fishing piers need to be regulated. Or alternatively, fishing shouldn’t be allowed on piers located where a vast population of juvenile pelicans and other seabirds are present. Since things can’t change overnight, I will keep doing my part by educating people and spreading awareness of this issue. Through my volunteer experience, I learned how to solve problems in the moment and think rationally in order to make the most efficient decisions possible when animals are in dangerous situations.
To read the full news story of the Cormorant, click here.
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