- 59 avian lives rescued from unstable 40-foot coastal tree
- 5-hour operation using egg cartons and heated incubator blankets
- Chicks require hourly feedings with species-specific fish diet
- 3-month rehabilitation plan before wild release
Coastal California's wildlife faced an ecological crisis when arborists discovered a critically compromised eucalyptus tree at Burton Chace Park. The towering specimen – home to an entire colony of double-crested cormorants – showed catastrophic structural damage following winter storms. Los Angeles County arborists made the tough call to remove the hazard tree before it crushed park visitors.
We observed expanding trunk fractures progressing daily,reported Nicole Mooradian from LA County Beaches & Harbors. This wasn't speculative risk management – mathematical models showed 93% collapse probability within 72 hours.The decision triggered an unprecedented collaboration between urban forestry crews and avian experts to save the nesting colony.
International Bird Rescue deployed a specialized team wearing black camouflage suits to minimize human imprinting. Using arborist cranes, workers removed 20 nests branch-by-branch over 312 minutes. Biologists below maintained precise 99.5°F incubation conditions using medical-grade warmers – critical for preventing embryonic death in displaced eggs.
Urban Wildlife Challenges- 87% of Southern California's coastal cormorants now nest in non-native eucalyptus
- Windthrow events increased 22% in LA County since 2015
- Rescue centers report 140% surge in displaced nestlings since 2020
The San Pedro rehabilitation facility now faces immense logistical challenges. These altricial chicks hatch blind and featherless,explained manager Kylie Clatterbuck. We've implemented puppet feeding protocols developed for condor reintroduction programs.Staff mimic parent birds using 3D-printed cormorant head replicas while playing colony noise recordings.
Marina del Rey's coastal microclimate presents unique rehabilitation advantages. The rescue center utilizes local Pacific sardines and anchovies to maintain natural dietary rhythms. By month three, juveniles will undergo flight conditioning in 100-foot aviaries before joining wild flocks at Catalina Island's protected breeding grounds.
