A flock of brown pelicans waddled back into the wild on Wednesday morning, survivors of Southern California’s latest toxic algal bloom. This year’s bloom was the deadliest such event since 2015, when thousands of animals were killed along a coastal swath stretching from Central California to Alaska.
This year’s intense bloom, which started in January, poisoned the 13 pelicans and many other sea animals in the region, including sea lions that sometimes threatened beachgoers. The pelicans that took off Wednesday had made a full recovery at the Wetlands and Wildlife Care Center in Huntington Beach.
The release was held just south of the pier, with community members invited to watch.
“This is always a special moment — not just for our team and volunteers who worked tirelessly to save these birds, but for the community as well,” said Debbie McGuire, executive director of the wildlife nonprofit. “Watching them take flight is a powerful reminder of why our work matters.”…