Evacuated birds land in H.B.

Ricky, Lucy, Ethel and Stella are shaken, but safe.

The four birds, who usually reside at the A2Z Animals ranch in Acton, found themselves in danger as the massive Station Fire approached the ranch. The birds, who work in the film industry, spent several hours in confusion and confinement as they were evacuated.

They are now happily eating and flapping their wings in the relative luxury of the Wetlands and Wildlife Care Center in Huntington Beach.

All of the birds had suffered from smoke inhalation, and hadn’t eaten for about two days by the time they arrived at the center.

Their ranch houses everything from elephants to goats, who appear in films and on television. All the animals were safely evacuated.

Ethel, an African pink-backed pelican, is 18 years old; she’s considered elderly in pelican years.

The “Evan Almighty” and “Hannah Montana” star was kept away from the other birds in her own air-conditioned space inside the wildlife center’s clinic.

“It’s more comfortable in here,” Wildlife Technician Kelly Beavers said. “We ran some blood tests on her, and she was really dehydrated.”

Ethel has been tube-fed and cosseted, and is happily recovering. Stella, a European white stork, had good blood test results, and didn’t show any evidence of dehydration. White pelicans Ricky and Lucy also are doing well.

Beavers said the Acton ranch is now trying to rebuild. The back of the barn, where some of the birds died in the fire, and many other buildings and pieces of equipment were burned.

The care center’s staff is used to caring for wildlife that doesn’t have an owner, so the four film industry birds add a bit of pressure to the daily routine, Beavers said.

“It’s kind of stressful having them here because they belong somewhere else,” she said. “We treat each separately, with kid gloves.”

The center also has worked with other individuals and agencies to help creatures displaced or affected by the fire, donating food, towels and sheets, and helping create places for wild birds to stay in the La Cañada area.

“Everybody is helping everybody else out,” Beavers said.

The center is low on funds; taking care of a single sea bird can cost $2,000 a month. To make a donation, call (714) 374-5587 or visit wwccoc.org.