SeaWorld San Diego recently returned seven brown pelicans back into the wild. The squadron of pelicans was rescued from all the way in Arizona several weeks ago after they were blown off course by monsoonal weather as they were flying north from their breeding areas in Baja.

Eight juvenile brown pelicans were brought to SeaWorld San Diego today from the Tucson Wildlife Center and Liberty Wildlife Center in Arizona for care before being returned to the wild. The rescued pelicans arrived at SeaWorld this morning and the marine park’s bird keepers weighed and examined the birds, gave them vitamins and assessed their feather condition.

When January storms battered San Diego, polluted runoff water may have sickened some 500 brown pelicans. According to Stephanie Costelow, SeaWorld San Diego's curator of birds, the park took in and cared for 102 sick birds in January alone.