Friday the pelican released into the wild after two week rehabilitation

A pelican covered in bitumen from the Boral chemical spill has returned to the wild after two weeks of rehabilitation involving a dozen baths and nearly 2kg of fish daily.

The pelican who famously evaded capture for weeks after being covered in tar from a chemical spill has been released back into the wild after a two week rehabilitation.

Friday the pelican was covered in tar from a 10,000 litre kerosene-bitumen spill from the Boral asphalt plant on September 29.

The subadult female pelican evaded determined efforts by FNQ Wildlife volunteers to rescue her before she was finally captured on Friday, October 17 by pelican specialist Julie Dunn, and given the name Friday.

FNQ Wildlife Rescue's Nandalie Wheaton and Julie Dunn say their goodbyes to Friday. Picture: Brendan Radke

After a preliminary veterinary consult, she was taken into Ms Dunn’s care.

“By the time I got her the tar was completely encrusted on her chest,” Ms Dunn said.

“She was very stressed and it would have been extremely painful.”

Friday was covered in tar from the spill. Picture: Supplied

Over the course of two weeks, Ms Dunn gave her at least a dozen washes to remove the tar.

“I had to put vegetable oil in her feathers and break it all up with a toothbrush or my fingers,” she said.

Julie Dunn after capturing Friday.

“Once I did that, I’d put her in a nice, warm, soapy bath, and would scrub and scrub to get the oil out and break up the tar.

“Then I did a cold water plunge and gave her a good hose over to get rid of the flecks.

“It was a lot of work.”

FNQ Wildlife Rescue's Nandalie Wheaton and Julie Dunn feed Friday one last mullet on the Cairns Esplanade before encouraging her to fly away. Picture: Brendan Radke

Friday was treated to 1.5-2kg of fish a day, a makeshift pen and a pool while in Ms Dunn’s care.

“By the end, she got quite fussy and would only eat mullet and gar,” Ms Dunn said.

Boral have agreed to pay for her rehabilitation costs, Ms Dunn said.

“It was very good of them to do that,” she said.

Friday still has some stains around her eyes and a “few little flecks” which will break up over time, Ms Dunn said.

“I’m not too worried about that,” she said.

“She’ll be around,” Ms Dunn said. Picture: Brendan Radke

“She’ll be around and I’ll continue to monitor her.”

Ms Dunn, who has rescued hundreds of pelicans over the past 30 years, said she was very happy to see Friday released.

“She’s a very happy and healthy bird, and it’s time for her to get back out to what she knows best,” Ms Dunn said.

“I’m always very happy to see them go back to the wild.

“They’ve got to be wild and free.”

Originally published as Friday the pelican released into the wild after two week rehabilitation