About Us
Mission
To protect the right of all birds, and pelicans in particular, to live out their lives free from harm due to human interference, specifically fishing line entanglement, through specific programs aimed at Preventing fishing line entanglement, Educating the public about fishing line entanglement and Rescuing entangled birds. In short to be a Friend.
​
Goals of the Organization
-
PREVENTION of fishing line entanglement at state, local and private fishing piers.
-
INTERVENTION when birds get hooked on piers.
-
EDUCATION to the public and anglers on how to prevent fishing line entanglement and what to do if a bird is accidentally hooked.
-
RESCUE entangled birds at fishing piers, roosts and rookeries.
Fishing line entanglement is the number one cause of death for brown pelicans.
Founders Story
In 2014, Jeanette Edwards, an avid fisherwoman, came upon two dead pelicans tangled in fishing line at a mangrove island near her home.
The sight of these pelicans and seeing how they had each suffered such a horrible death prompted Jeanette to begin patrolling the island for birds needing rescue from fishing line entanglement. She continues to do this to this day and now eight years later has rescued almost two hundred pelicans from this one rookery alone.
In November 2017, Ms. Edwards expanded her patrolling to other rookeries. On just 2 visits to a small rookery in Miguel Bay, near the Sunshine Skyway Fishing Pier, she came upon 24 dead pelicans in varying stages of decomposition, as well as numerous skeletons hanging in the mangroves. In addition to the 24 dead pelicans, she and the two men with her, were also able to rescue 4 pelicans during those two trips. In just two trips she came upon 28 birds - almost half the number of birds rescued at her own rookery during a four-year period, all due to the close proximity of this rookery to the Sunshine Skyway Fishing Pier.
It was this particular incident that sparked Jeanette to take a more aggressive approach in her efforts to rescue entangled birds. In 2018 she incorporated and opened the doors to her non-profit knowing what an impact it could make to rescue pelicans, educate the public and prevent further injury.
Brown Pelicans have a lifespan of up to 40 years in the wild.
However, studies show only 30% of all pelicans will survive their first year
Sadly, only 2% of Pelicans will live to reach the age of ten years
Fishing line entanglement also kills Herons, Egrets, Ibises, Cormorants and other seabirds.
