GLACE BAY, N.S. -- Birdwatchers say a pelican that has been feasting at a Cape Breton wharf wasn't among an early exodus of rare birds swept into the Maritimes by post-tropical storm Dorian.
David McCorquodale, a Cape Breton University biologist, says he has seen other species, including various types of terns, recover their strength and depart south.
The lone brown pelican believed to have been blown in by Dorian in September was reported to be on the wharf in Glace Bay on Friday, feeding on fish provided by locals.
McCorquodale, an avid birdwatcher, said it's not too late for the pelican to find its way to a warmer climate. But others were expressing concern the animal may be harmed by delaying its departure from Nova Scotia.
Alicia Penney, a local birdwatcher and naturalist who went to see the Glace Bay pelican, said she hopes the bird soon "fills up his tank and heads back to where he belongs" -- likely the southern United States.
Cape Breton birdwatcher and photographer Steven McGrath said he didn't spot the pelican when he visited the wharf and talked to fishermen on Monday afternoon.
A spokeswoman for the provincial Department of Lands and Forests said there is currently no plan for the department to intervene. "We continue to ask the public to refrain from feeding the pelican," Lisa Jarrett said.
This report by The Canadian Press was first published Sept. 30, 2019.
