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American White Pelican American White Pelican British Columbia has only one nesting colony of the provincially endangered American White Pelican. Province of British Columbia Ministry of Environment, Lands and Parks permit some increase in numbers. Ad- California, plus an isolated site on the ditional human-caused disturbance Gulf Coast of Texas. The nesting range can, however, tip the scales in the other extends northward into Canada to in- direction. clude 30 000 or more nesting pairs at Why are American White At some nesting colonies, distur- about 30 colonies that are found from Pelicans at risk? bances caused by high-powered boats, British Columbia to the Lake of the ritish Columbia has only one low-flying aircraft, or people walking Woods area of Western Ontario. nesting colony of American White through colonies have caused serious There is little reliable information on Pelicans. It is located at Stum Lake losses, and even complete abandon- whether the North American popula- Bin White Pelican Provincial Park in ment. In the panic of such an event, the tion of American White Pelicans is the Chilcotin region, 70 kilometres west fleeing adult pelicans often crush eggs increasing or decreasing, because there of Williams Lake. Because these colonial or knock them out of the nest. The has not been a continent-wide survey birds are migratory, have only a single untended eggs or small nestlings are of all colonies in a single year. The total nesting site, and feed on fish in shallow then quickly preyed on by gulls, ravens, of 50 000 pairs may seem substantial, lakes sometimes hundreds of kilometres or crows, or may die from exposure to but most of these nest in a few large from Stum Lake, they are particularly cold rain or searing sun. At Stum Lake colonies which makes them especially vulnerable to a variety of threats. about one young reaches the fly- vulnerable. At Stum Lake, both natural and hu- ing stage for every two eggs laid. The American Although not man-influenced events can affect nest- This is typical for American White Pelican included in the ing success. Fluctuating water levels are White Pelicans. federal Migra- the most frequent natural cause of Some pelicans also die from a has been legally tory Bird Con- colony abandonment. In drought years, variety of causes during migra- designated as vention Act, the nesting islands become connected to the tion or while on their wintering American mainland, allowing access to land-based grounds, including shooting, an Endangered White Pelican predators. A single severe flood or a se- disease, adverse weather, or en- Species is protected by ries of wet years can result in inundation tanglement in fishing gear. state and pro- of islands. Over the thousands of years Although British Columbia’s in British vincial wildlife they have existed on this continent, only nesting colony of white peli- Columbia. laws. In British white pelicans have been able to cope cans appears to be holding its Columbia the with these natural events and maintain own, it is also evident that hu- species is pro- their overall population. In recent dec- man-caused disturbances, mortality, tected against killing, capture, or harass- ades, however, various drainage, irriga- and habitat degradation are taking their ment under the Wildlife Act. It is on the tion, and diversion projects, particularly toll on the species across its range. provincial Red List, and has been legally in the United States, have resulted in the Surely these magnificent birds deserve designated as an Endangered Species in demise of some colonies. better treatment in future years. British Columbia. In some years, predation may have drastic effects on a colony. In 1972, What is their status? What do they look like? coyotes swam to a nesting island in elicans were first reported nesting at he American White Pelican Stum Lake after the young had hatched, Stum Lake in 1939. There has been a (Pelecanus erythrorhynchos) is un- and decimated the colony; only 10 fairly steady increase from about 100 mistakeable. Its huge size (wingspan young fledged from 116 nests. More fre- PTnests in the early 1980s to over 400 in 2.4 to 3.0 metres; weight 6 to 7 quently, coyotes cross to the islands on 1993, although numbers fluctuate from kilograms), snowy white plumage with ice and cause the earliest nesters to year to year. jet-black wing-tips, and huge orange- abandon their nests. These birds usually The world population of the Ameri- yellow bill and pouch, distinguish it re-nest successfully a week or two later can White Pelican is estimated at about from all other species. when the ice has melted and the island is 50 000 nesting pairs, entirely confined In flight, white pelicans are a spec- more secure. to North America. In the United States, tacular sight. Almost always in groups, Despite the natural losses described 15 000 to 20 000 pairs nest at about 15 they fly gracefully in precisely spaced above, enough pelicans normally sur- widely scattered colonies in the north- lines or “V” formations, flapping slowly vive to maintain colony size, and even to ern plains, Rocky Mountain states, and in unison half a dozen times, then gliding, then flapping and gliding again. short tail, short stout orange-red legs, The American White Pelican is gen- They fly with the neck held back against and large webbed feet. Male and female erally a silent bird, but on the breeding the shoulders, and the bill resting pelicans are similar in appearance, al- grounds it utters low-toned grunts or against the breast. Whooping Cranes, though females are slightly smaller. subdued croaks. Sounds of fledglings Snow Geese, and swans all fly with In late winter and spring, adult white have been described as a low “coughing, outstretched necks. Despite their pelicans develop a horny projection, whining grunt.” ungainly appearance, white pelicans roughly triangular in shape and about 4 are excellent gliders and agile fliers. centimetres high, on the upper bill. At How do they reproduce? When leaving a migration rest-stop, this time they also show some pale yel- merican White Pelicans nest in or heading to a foraging lake from the low feathering on the crown of the head colonies from a few to several thou- nesting island, they often catch thermal and upper breast, and the bare skin sand pairs, on islands in lakes, reser- air currents and soar to great heights, around the eye turns orange-yellow. Avoirs, or large rivers. At Stum Lake, even disappearing from view. Their These breeding season characteristics there are two preferred nesting islands. descent from such heights may be disappear in early summer. Juvenile Colony sites are relatively flat, have bare spectacular as they drop like meteors, white pelicans have greyish feathers ground or low plants but no dense tree the wind rushing with a roar through during their first summer and autumn. or shrub growth, and are situated fairly their half-closed wings. During normal The large, naked pouch of pelicans is close to the water but out of reach of flight, which is about 50 kilometres per connected to the throat, and is very waves. Islands are undoubtedly chosen hour, every motion is easy, unhurried, expandable. It is used to catch fish, as a because land-based predators cannot and graceful. dish from which nestlings can feed on easily reach them. When at rest with the wings folded, regurgitated fish, and for display during Courtship begins immediately after almost no black is visible. On the water courtship. It can also be fluttered in and arrival at Stum Lake in late April. A pair they float with surprising buoyancy. out to promote cooling. Contrary to bond is formed when a male can suc- Other characteristics of pelicans include popular belief, pelicans do not fly with cessfully defend his chosen mate from a hook on the end of the upper bill, a fish in their pouches. other males. The mated pair then engage in curious rituals such as pouch fledglings that have joined a pod, but Present distribution of the displays and bowing, and the female both parents are kept busy bringing American White Pelican in Canada and the United States selects a nest site. food to them at this stage, which lasts Nests are about 60 cm across, and until they can fly at 7 to 10 weeks of age. may be made of a mound of soil, plant Young American White Pelicans material and debris with a hollow in the may wander widely for the first two middle, or may merely be a scrape on years of their lives, but will return to bare ground. They are about one metre Stum Lake to nest when they are three apart – just enough that neighbouring years old. The maximum lifespan may pelicans can’t reach each other. At Stum reach 17 years. Lake, nests are scraped into shape three or four days after the pelicans arrive. What do they eat? Most eggs at Stum Lake are laid in the he American White Pelican is first 10 days of May. piscivorous (fish-eating). It doesn’t White pelican eggs are large (about 9 dive underwater like its close relative cm long) and dull white, with a coarse- T the Brown Pelican, but feeds from textured, chalky surface. They often be- the surface on fish that live in shallow come quite stained as incubation pro- water. The diet of the white pelican var- ceeds. The usual clutch is two eggs, but ies considerably, but includes carp, varies from one to three, with an average perch, suckers, catfish, chub, and shin- at Stum Lake of 1.8.
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