- LOS ANGELES -- Pelicans
are crash-landing on to pavements and roads in Arizona after mistaking
the shimmer of sun-baked surfaces for stretches of water.
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- More than 30 brown pelicans have injured themselves landing
on mirages in the past two weeks, according to wildlife officials.
-
- With temperatures around 110F (43C), the birds have been
treated for dehydration and emaciation as well as for injuries suffered
during landing.
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- Experts believe the birds are heading inland to hunt
for fish because of food shortages along the west coast caused by hot weather
drying out waterways.
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- "They try to splash down but it's asphalt and it's
bam!" a spokesman for the Arizona Game and Fish Department said.
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- The department has set up a telephone hotline for people
who come across the injured birds.
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- "We're seeing broken wings and other injuries in
brown pelicans," the spokesman said.
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- "We want to make sure people know what to do if
they encounter one of the injured birds."
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- The brown pelican has been on the endangered species
list since 1972. While some migrate to Arizona during the monsoon season
each year, the number arriving this month is unusually high.
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