Pelecanus onocrotalus -- Linnaeus, 1758 ANIMALIA -- CHORDATA -- AVES -- PELECANIFORMES -- PELECANIDAE Common names: Great White Pelican; Pélican blanc; White Pelican European Red List Assessment European Red List Status LC -- Least Concern, (IUCN version 3.1) Assessment Information Year published: 2015 Date assessed: 2015-03-31 Assessor(s): BirdLife International Reviewer(s): Symes, A. Compiler(s): Ashpole, J., Burfield, I., Ieronymidou, C., Pople, R., Tarzia, M., Wheatley, H. & Wright, L. Assessment Rationale European regional assessment: Least Concern (LC) EU27 regional assessment: Least Concern (LC) At both European and EU27 scales this species has a very large range, and hence does not approach the thresholds for Vulnerable under the range size criterion (Extent of Occurrence 10% in ten years or three generations, or with a specified population structure). The population trend appears to be increasing, and hence the species does not approach the thresholds for Vulnerable under the population trend criterion (30% decline over ten years or three generations). For these reasons the species is evaluated as Least Concern within both Europe and the EU27. Occurrence Countries/Territories of Occurrence Native: Albania; Armenia; Azerbaijan; Bosnia and Herzegovina; Bulgaria; Cyprus; Georgia; Greece; Hungary; Italy; Macedonia, the former Yugoslav Republic of; Montenegro; Romania; Russian Federation; Serbia; Turkey; Ukraine Vagrant: Austria; Belarus; Croatia; Czech Republic; Denmark; Finland; France; Latvia; Malta; Netherlands; Norway; Poland; Portugal; Slovenia; Spain; Switzerland Population The European population is estimated at 4,900-5,600 pairs, which equates to 9,700-11,100 mature individuals. The population in the EU27 is estimated at 4,400-4,800 pairs, which equates to 8,800-9,700 mature individuals. For details of national estimates, see Supplementary PDF. Trend In Europe and the EU27 the population size is estimated to be increasing. For details of national estimates, see Supplementary PDF. Habitats and Ecology Its regular habitat includes fresh or brackish water of lakes, deltas, lagoons and marshes, often requiring extensive reed beds for breeding. Within Europe the populations are fully migratory (Elliott et al. 2014) and travel via important stop-over sites (Nelson 2005). The species is entirely piscivorous, and in Europe it prefers carp (Cyprinus carpio) (Elliott et al. 2014) Habitats & Altitude Habitat (level 1 - level 2) Importance Occurrence Marine Intertidal - Mud Flats and Salt Flats suitable breeding Marine Neritic - Macroalgal/Kelp suitable breeding Marine Neritic - Seagrass (Submerged) suitable breeding Habitats & Altitude Habitat (level 1 - level 2) Importance Occurrence Marine Neritic - Subtidal Loose Rock/pebble/gravel suitable breeding Marine Neritic - Subtidal Rock and Rocky Reefs suitable breeding Marine Neritic - Subtidal Sandy suitable breeding Marine Neritic - Subtidal Sandy-Mud suitable breeding Wetlands (inland) - Bogs, Marshes, Swamps, Fens, Peatlands suitable breeding Wetlands (inland) - Permanent Saline, Brackish or Alkaline Marshes/Pools major breeding Wetlands (inland) - Permanent Saline, Brackish or Alkaline Marshes/Pools major non-breeding Altitude max. 1370 m Occasional altitudinal limits Threats The species is threatened by habitat destruction through drainage (Crivelli et al. 1991, Johnsgard 1993, Nelson 2005, Elliott et al. 2014), the divergence of rivers for irrigation (Johnsgard 1993), agriculture development and industry (Elliott et al. 2014). It is also subject to climatic fluctuations that have a strong influence over water-levels in wetlands: floods leading to the inundation of nesting sites (Elliott et al. 2014) and lowering water-levels leading to the death of fish due to increased water salinity (Crivelli 1994). The species is threatened by persecution (Johnsgard 1993, Elliott et al. 2014) and hunting for sport because of its (minimal) depredation of fish from fish-farms (Crivelli et al. 1991, Kostadinova et al. 2007). It also suffers mortality due to collisions with electric powerlines during migration, dispersal or on its wintering grounds and is often found drowned in fishing nets (Crivelli et al. 1991). Disturbance (Elliott et al. 2014), (e.g., from tourism) threatens breeding colonies (Crivelli et al. 1991), and pesticides, heavy metal contamination and disease could have devastating effects on large colonies in the future (Crivelli et al. 1991, Elliott et al. 2014). Threats & Impacts Threat (level 1) Threat (level 2) Impact and Stresses Agriculture & Agro-industry Timing Scope Severity Impact aquaculture farming Ongoing Unknown Causing/Could Unknown cause fluctuations Stresses Ecosystem conversion Biological resource Fishing & harvesting Timing Scope Severity Impact use aquatic resources Ongoing Unknown Unknown Unknown (unintentional effects: (large scale) Stresses [harvest]) Species mortality Biological resource Hunting & trapping Timing Scope Severity Impact use terrestrial animals Ongoing Unknown Causing/Could Unknown (intentional use - cause fluctuations species is the target) Stresses Species mortality Climate change & Storms & flooding Timing Scope Severity Impact severe weather Ongoing Unknown Causing/Could Unknown cause fluctuations Stresses Reduced reproductive success Energy production Renewable energy Timing Scope Severity Impact & mining Ongoing Unknown Unknown Unknown Stresses Species mortality Human intrusions & Recreational Timing Scope Severity Impact disturbance activities Ongoing Majority (50-90%) Unknown Unknown Stresses Species disturbance Natural system Abstraction of Timing Scope Severity Impact modifications surface water Ongoing Unknown Unknown Unknown (commercial use) Stresses Ecosystem degradation; Indirect ecosystem effects Threats & Impacts Threat (level 1) Threat (level 2) Impact and Stresses Pollution Industrial & military Timing Scope Severity Impact effluents (type Ongoing Majority (50-90%) Unknown Unknown unknown/ unrecorded) Stresses Transportation & Utility & service Timing Scope Severity Impact service corridors lines Ongoing Unknown Causing/Could Unknown cause fluctuations Stresses Species mortality Conservation Conservation Actions Underway The species is listed under Appendix I of the Convention on Migratory Species; Appendix II of the Bern Convention; Annex I of the Birds Directive. It occurs within 43 Important Bird Areas. Within the EU it is listed within 108 Special Protection Areas. Conservation Actions Proposed Monitoring and review of water management practices in key habitats. Protection of breeding and feeding sites. Enforcement and monitoring of persecution, including educational programmes to reduce this threat. Monitoring of heavy metal and pesticide levels, and improved management of water bodies to reduce contaminant loads. Bibliography Crivelli, A.J., Leshem, Y, Mitchev, T. and Jerrentrup, H. 1991. Where do Palaearctic Great White Pelicans ( Pelecanus onocrotalus) presently overwinter? Revue d’Ecologie (Terre Vie) 46: 145-171 Elliott, A., Christie, D.A., Jutglar, F., Bonan, A., Garcia, E.F.J. and Kirwan, G.M. 2014. Great White Pelican ( Pelecanus onocrotalus). In: del Hoyo, J., Elliott, A., Sargatal, J., Christie, D.A. and de Juana, E. (eds.) 2014. Handbook of the Birds of the World Alive. Lynx Edicions, Barcelona. Johnsgard, P.A. 1993. Cormorants, darters, and pelicans of the world. Smithsonian Institution Press, Washington. Kostadinova I. and Gramatikov, M. (eds.) 2007. Important Bird Areas in Bulgaria and Natura 2000. Bulgarian Society for the Protection of Birds, Conservation Series, Book 11, Sofia, BSPB, 639 pp. Nelson, J.B. 2005. Pelicans, cormorants and their relatives. Pelecanidae, Sulidae, Phalacrocoracidae, Anhingidae, Fregatidae, Phaethontidae. Oxford University Press, Oxford, U.K. Map (see overleaf) .