PELICANS & PRAWNS

LIFE ON THE OCEAN

Tom, the owner of La Tortuga Verde, takes Gary and I and the volunteers (mostly young people who work in exchange for a place to stay) out on his boat in the ocean. It’s a bumpy ride. We pull up to several fishing boats to buy fish. They shake their heads, no fish, they only have prawns! They are huge! As they are fishing, the pelicans hang out by the boats for any scraps.

We make our way to an island and land in the cove. While we swim, the family at the fishing village prepares the prawns. We eat the whole prawn and it is just delicious! After lunch, it’s a concerted effort from all of us to push the boat out past the waves. To get past the force of the surf the villagers count the waves - at a certain number there is a break and we are good to go.

PELICAN RESCUES

We head over to the "bird" island where there are hundreds of Frigates and Pelicans! We end up rescuing two Pelicans with broken wings. Without the ability to fly, the birds can’t catch food and will eventually starve.

I get to hold one of the Pelicans, wrapped in a towel on my lap, for the bumpy ride back. Once back at the hotel, the Pelicans are fed ten fish every hour until they get their strength back up. Then a paint marking is put on their back so when the Pelicans are released the hotel can informally keep track of rescues.

FEATHERED FAMILY

Tom has rescued many Pelicans and they are always returned to the ocean - except for Albert. Albert is the resident Pelican of the resort who makes the pecking order clear to new arrivals. They each have their branch to roost on for the night while they recover their strength.

It was so special to be invited on a sea adventure and then to participate in a pelican rescue!

Life’s a beach!