Beak straightening: pelican plastic surgery?

A 1-year-old white pelican recovers at the Wetlands and Wildlife Care Center
in Huntington Beach, CA. after a beak-straightening operation.

A pelican with a life-threatening beak deformity emerged from a successful, first-of-its kind surgical procedure Sunday, and is now gulping fish at a furious rate as it recovers in Huntington Beach.

The American white pelican, nicknamed Nigel, was captured a week ago near ponds at the Audubon House in Irvine, its lower beak severely bent, said Debbie McGuire, wildlife director at the Wetlands and Wildlife Care Center.

The bird had become tangled in fishing line, complete with hook and lure, his lower beak warped to one side.

"He was completely twisted, like a pretzel," she said.

The bird had not been able to eat for at least several days, and his lower beak was not only skewed to the right, but fractured.

Rescuers fed the animal and prepared it for surgery.

On Sunday, veterinary surgeon Marcos Unis of the VCA All Care Animal Referral Center in Fountain Valley spent about an hour placing pins in the beak.

The pins were attached to a fixation device to hold them in place, he said, and acrylic cement was added.

The bird's recovery should take about eight weeks.

"We usually remove that type of fixation in about six weeks," Unis said. "We cut those screws and remove the screws, and remove the cement, so there's no residual implant once everything heals."

Such fractures are common in pelicans, Unis said; their beaks are made of cartilage, not bone.

He said he'll publish the technique.

"If this works well, it will be a means of helping these other guys recover if they have a similar deformity, or even a beak fracture," he said.

Meanwhile, McGuire said, it's going to be an expensive recovery for Nigel as he consumes large amounts of fish.

As always, the Care Center is seeking donations, its only means of support. They can be made through the center's website.

By PAT BRENNAN / ORANGE COUNTY REGISTER