Pelican Release at Brunswick Coast Guard Station, Ga.

On July 1, in the largest bird release since the BP oil spill began, the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service (FWS) released 78 rehabilitated brown pelicans back to the wild at the Brunswick Coast Guard Station in Georgia. 400 rehabilitated birds have been released to date.

Wildlife rescue and recovery crews—including nearly 600 FWS personnel—continue to survey affected areas using vessels, airboats and helicopters. These missions are conducted routinely as well as under guidance of tips received via the Wildlife Hotline.

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Pelicans are loaded onto U.S. Coast Guard aircraft prior to release. Tami Heilemann-DOI

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Pelicans are loaded onto U.S. Coast Guard aircraft prior to release. Tami Heilemann-DOI

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Sharon Taylor of the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service aboard a U.S. Coast Guard aircraft transporting cleaned pelicans to Brunswick Coast Guard Station, Ga. Tami Heilemann-DOI

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Sharon Taylor of the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service and Coast Guard pilot aboard a U.S. Coast Guard aircraft transporting cleaned pelicans to Brunswick Coast Guard Station, Ga. Tami Heilemann-DOI

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Sharon Taylor of the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service aboard a U.S. Coast Guard aircraft transporting cleaned pelicans to Brunswick Coast Guard Station, Ga. Tami Heilemann-DOI

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Fish and Wildlife Service employees unload rehabilitated pelicans from U.S. Coast Guard aircraft in preparation for release at Brunswick Coast Guard Station, Ga. Tami Heilemann-DOI

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Rehabilitated pelicans are released by U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service and Coast Guard employees at Brunswick Coast Guard Station, Ga. Tami Heilemann-DOI

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Rehabilitated pelicans fly away after release by U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service and Coast Guard employees at Brunswick Coast Guard Station, Ga. Tami Heilemann-DOI

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Rehabilitated pelicans are released by U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service and Coast Guard employees at Brunswick Coast Guard Station, Ga. Tami Heilemann-DOI

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In the largest bird release since the BP oil spill began, the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service released 78 rehabilitated brown pelicans back to the wild at the Brunswick Coast Guard Station in Georgia. 400 rehabilitated birds have been released to date. Tami Heilemann-DOI

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Many pelicans with colored bands were released to Bird Island. Tami Heilemann-DOI

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In the largest bird release since the BP oil spill began, the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service released 78 rehabilitated brown pelicans back to the wild at the Brunswick Coast Guard Station in Georgia. 400 rehabilitated birds have been released to date. Tami Heilemann-DOI

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