Eastern Brown Pelican Scientific Name: Pelecanus occidentalis occidentalis Federal Status: Endangered, 10/13/70 • State Status: Endangered The Eastern Brown Pelican has recovered sufficiently in Florida, Alabama, and the United States Atlantic coast to be delisted. Although numbers are increasing in Louisiana and Texas, it is currently still listed as Endangered in Texas and Louisiana.

Description Distribution groves and other woody vegetation. With its 6-foot wingspread and 18- and Habitat Part of the Texas population spends the nonbreeding season along the inch bill with pouch along the under- Historically, the Brown Pelican was Texas coast, while others migrate side, no other bird could be easily found in large numbers along the south to spend the winter along the mistaken for this unique seashore Atlantic and Gulf coasts from South eastern coast of Mexico. dweller. Possessing broad wings and Carolina to Florida and west to Texas. a bulky body, a Brown Pelican weighs Today, the birds occur throughout about 9 pounds. A graceful flier, the their historic range but their numbers Life History pelican’s powerful wingbeat is one of have been greatly reduced. It is quite an experience to watch a the slowest among birds. Its feet are The earliest population estimate Brown Pelican feeding. Soaring over- webbed to provide power while of Brown Pelicans in Texas was that head, the bird spots a fish near the swimming in or under the water. of Sennett in 1879, who estimated surface and keeps it in sight. Rotat- 5,000 adults nesting on two islands ing into a dive, the pelican plunges in Corpus Christi Bay. By 1918, the 30 to 60 feet bill-first into the water. estimated number was 5,000 birds The impact of hitting the water with nesting on the entire Texas coast. such force would stun an ordinary The numbers continued to decline bird, but the Brown Pelican is sharply from about 1,034 breeding equipped with air sacs just beneath birds on the central coast in 1939 to the skin to cushion the blow. As it only 50 birds in 1964. During the enters the water, the loose skin on period 1967-1974, the Texas popula- the underside of the bill extends to tion was estimated to be less than 100 birds, with fewer than 10 breed- ing pairs. Only 40 young were fledged on the entire Texas coast dur- ing this period. Today, Brown Pelicans are found along the Texas coast from Chambers County on the upper coast to Cameron County on the lower coast. Most of the breed- ing birds nest on Pelican Island in Corpus Christi Bay and Sundown Island Brown Pelican near Port O’Connor, both Nesting Range © TPWD Glen Mills National Audubon Society Sanctuaries. Smaller Migratory and Nonbreeding adults have a white groups or colonies occa- Potential head and neck, often washed with sionally nest on Bird Nesting Range yellow; a grayish-brown body; and a Island in Matagorda Bay, dark brown to black belly. In a series of older spoil islands in West form a scoop net with an amazing breeding birds, the back of the neck is Matagorda Bay, Dressing Point Island capacity of 2.5 gallons. If the dive is a dark chestnut color with a yellow in East Matagorda Bay, and islands in successful, the pelican quickly drains patch at the base of the foreneck. Aransas Bay. Pelican numbers have the water from its pouch and tosses Some breeding birds develop red or increased slowly from very low levels its head back to swallow the fish. plum colored pouches. Adults molting in the 1960’s and 1970’s to an esti- Brown Pelicans can often be during incubation and chick-feeding mated 2,400 breeding pairs in 1995. seen flying in formation with slow have cream-colored heads and necks. Brown Pelicans nest on small, powerful wingbeats, searching the Juveniles are grayish-brown above isolated coastal islands where they are water for Menhaden and Mullet, with whitish underparts. Young birds safe from predators such as raccoons which form the major portion of appear more brown in color as they and coyotes. Nesting habitat ranges age, acquiring adult plumage by their from mud banks and spoil islands to third year. offshore islands covered with man- Eastern Brown Pelican 1 their diet. Several studies of food food. It is estimated that pelican num- habits have shown that the diet of bers declined by more than 80% in Brown Pelicans consists almost just 16 years, between 1918 and 1934. entirely of these fish. In one study, Even more damaging, however, Menhaden was by far the most preva- was the widespread use of DDT and lent fish found regurgitated and left similar insecticides beginning in the lying in pelican colonies. Since game- late 1940’s. These insecticides were fish considered desirable by fisher- used on farmlands across the United man are not typically included in the States and in coastal areas to control pelican’s diet, the birds do not com- mosquitoes. DDT does not usually pete with man for food. kill adult birds, but it does interfere Brown Pelicans breed in the with calcium metabolism. The result spring, building their nests in man- is that the birds lay thin-shelled eggs grove trees or on the ground. Nests that break during incubation or are vary greatly in size and structure, con- too thin to protect the embryo. Peli- sisting of piles of sticks, grass, reeds cans are fish eaters, and fish are and other available vegetation. Peli- great accumulators of all toxic chemi- cans usually lay two to four white cals that get into coastal waters. The eggs which are often stained brown pelican’s favorite food, Menhaden, a Brown Pelican with young © TPWD by nest materials. The young hatch in small filter-feeding fish, trap plankton about 30 days. Newly hatched peli- for food. The plankton absorbed DDT cans appear helpless indeed, with residues from runoff. Thus, the con- their black, featherless, leathery skin. centration of DDT and Endrin in the They are blind at first and completely environment had a devastating dependent upon their parents for impact on the reproduction of Brown food and protection. Until the young Pelicans, along with other top-of-the- birds develop a coat of down, about food-chain birds such as Bald Eagles, two weeks after hatching, it is often Ospreys, and Peregrine Falcons. necessary for the adults to shade Recovery of these species has been them from the direct rays of the sun, steady since the early 1970’s, when which can be fatal. DDT and Endrin were banned in the Young pelicans are fed by both United States. parents. Using its pouch as a feeding In Texas today, the major threats trough, the adult regurgitates semidi- to the continued recovery of the gested fish into it for the young to Brown Pelican appear to be human eat. As the young pelicans grow, they disturbance and loss of nesting habi- reach farther into the pouch, occa- tat. Pelicans need safe places to nest, sionally reaching down the parent’s away from predators and man. Many throat for food. The young are fed former nesting sites have become for about nine weeks. During this accessible to both due to new con- time, each nestling will devour about struction and siltation. The hope is 150 pounds of fish. The parents that as the pelican population spend most of every day catching fish expands, the birds will colonize the to satisfy the ravenous appetites of more remote islands still available as their offspring. nesting sites. Although mortality from preda- tors, weather, and accidents is high Ongoing Recovery for hatchlings, once on their own, Efforts Brown Pelicans have a fairly long life The National Audubon Society, U.S. span. Adult survival approaches 80% Fish and Wildlife Service, and Texas per year, and some birds live 30 Parks and Wildlife Department have Brown Pelican in non-breeding plumage years or longer. combined forces to count, band, and © TPWD Leory Williamson inspect the Brown Pelican nesting existing colonies and surveying the Threats and Reasons colonies. Brown Pelicans banded on bays for possible new nesting sites. for Decline the central Texas coast have been One recently developed technique Brown Pelican numbers in Texas reported from the Louisiana coast, involves placing pelican decoys near began to decline sharply in the 1920’s Mobile Bay, Alabama, Naples, Florida, suitable islands in an effort to estab- and 1930’s, when adult birds were and the northeastern coast of lish new nesting colonies. killed and nesting colonies destroyed Yucatan. Researchers are studying Also, individuals from Texas Parks by fishermen, in the mistaken belief the migration patterns of Brown Peli- and Wildlife Department and the that pelicans compete with man for cans, particularly movements between National Audubon Society regularly Texas and Mexico. patrol the nesting islands to help mini- Biologists continue to monitor mize the effects of human disturbance. 2 Eastern Brown Pelican the nesting success of pelicans at Many of the islands are owned or any time is illegal. The Endangered Nongame and Endangered Species Species Act provides protection for Conservation Fund. Special nongame listed species against any action that stamps and decals are available at significantly disrupts normal behavior Texas Parks and Wildlife Department patterns, including breeding, feeding, (TPWD) Field Offices, most State Parks, or sheltering. and the License Branch of TPWD head- Occasionally, a Brown Pelican will quarters in Austin. Part of the pro- mistake a fishing lure or bait for a ceeds from the sale of these items are swimming fish and accidently gets used to conserve habitat and provide hooked. If this happens to you, don’t information concerning rare and just cut the line and leave the bird endangered species. Conservation with trailing line that can entangle Passports, available from Texas Parks and kill it. Gently reel the pelican in. and Wildlife, are valid for one year Even though pelicans are big birds, and allow unlimited access to most they are not that strong, and this is State Parks, State Natural Areas, and easy to do. Grab the bill first and Wildlife Management Areas. Conserva- then fold the wings up to restrain the tion organizations in Texas also wel- bird. Next, remove all fishing line and come your participation and support. try to remove the hook. Cut the barb or push the hook through, just as you For More Information would for a person. If the hook is Contact impossible to remove, leave it in and Texas Parks and Wildlife Department Banding pelicans release the bird. Endangered Resources Branch © TPWD For years, pelicans reared in 4200 Smith School Road leased by the National Audubon Soci- Texas have been banded. If you see a Austin, Texas 78744 ety as colonial waterbird nesting sanc- pelican with a colored plastic band or (512) 912-7011 or (800) 792-1112 tuaries. These islands are regularly an aluminum U.S. Fish and Wildlife or posted and patrolled. Service band on its leg, note which U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service leg, the color of the band, the date, Ecological Services Field Office Where To See and the location. Send a post card to: 10711 Burnet Road, Suite 200 Brown Pelicans Bird Banding Laboratory, U.S. Fish and Austin, Texas 78758 Matagorda Island and Mustang Island Wildlife Service, Laurel, Maryland, (512) 490-0057 State Parks and Padre Island National 20811. This valuable information will or Seashore offer visitors the opportunity help biologists to better understand National Audubon Society to see and learn more about Brown the life cycle and movements of Brown P.O. Box 5052 Pelicans. Public piers and jetties, such Pelicans in Texas. Brownsville, Texas 78523 as those in Port Aransas, are also good You can be involved in the con- (210) 541-8034 places to watch pelicans. servation of Texas’ nongame wildlife resources by supporting the Special What You Can Do To Help Brown Pelicans and other colonial nesting birds (herons, egrets, spoon- bills, ibis, terns, gulls, and skimmers) nest on islands. Islands offer protec- tion from predators, but the birds are still vulnerable to human disturbance. Since the hot sun can kill small chicks and embryos in unhatched eggs in a matter of minutes if the adults are References flushed from the nests, you can help King, K.A. and E.L. Flickinger. 1977. The decline of Brown pelicans on the by staying off islands where birds are Louisiana and Texas gulf coast. The Southwestern Naturalist 21(4):417-431. nesting. Islands maintained as bird Mabie, David. 1990. Brown pelican/Reddish egret colony monitoring. Texas Parks sanctuaries are identified with posted and Wildlife Department Section 6 Report. Project W-125-R-1, Job. No. 9.4. 4 pp. signs. Boaters wishing to observe the Texas Parks and Wildlife Magazine: birds should bring binoculars and stay Paul R.T. “Pelican comeback.” March 1977. behind designated signs so as not to Middleton, R. “On the way back.” November 1984. disturb the birds. And whatever you U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service. 1979. Eastern Brown pelican recovery plan. do, don’t get off the boat. Pelicans Endangered Species Office, Atlanta, Georgia. (and other birds) will become agitated and leave their nests if approached. Remember that state and federal laws Funds for the production of this leaflet were provided by the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service, under Section 6 of the Endangered Species Act. protect nongame and endangered species, and harassing the birds at Eastern Brown Pelican 3