Trainees came from Green Point and up the coast as far as Port Macquarie.

"We are so lucky to have Cathy Gilmore from Australian Seabird Rescue on the Central Coast come to the FAWNA area to show our volunteers the tried and true methods to catch the birds that get into trouble. We were called to 39 pelicans in the last financial year," Wendy Bawn, southern seabird co-ordinator for the region's wildlife rescue group, FAWNA, said

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Pelicans in particular are iconic and much loved species of our rivers and estuaries. they are regularly entangled or ingest marine debris and discarded fishing tackle. They present real difficulties if they are still able to swim and fly, making rescue and treatment extremely challenging to wildlife volunteers.

Swallowing or entrapment by fishing lines and hooks will usually result in a slow and painful death if not rescued and treated.

The rooky rescue team was welcomed at Big4 Great Lakes Park at Tuncurry.

Thanks to the good folk at Tuncurry's Monin Seafood Wholesalers the trainee rescuers were able to tempt the pelicans closer with donated fish frames.

During the training a report was received by the FAWNA rescue hotline 6581 4141 that a bunch of people were interfering with and filming the beloved Tuncurry pelicans - FAWNA says they were pleased the community wildlife watch system is working! FAWNA had signs up advising training was in place but perhaps they weren't visible from a distance.

Kym Kilpatrick, a local FAWNA volunteer, in giving thanks to the trainer said: "Cathy is extremely knowledgeable and inspirational and we came away feeling much more confident in our ability to affect rescue when needed of these amazingly intelligent birds."

If you see a pelican or other wildlife in distress, call FAWNA's 24 hour rescue line 6581 4141.

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