American White Pelican (Pelecanus erythrorhynchos) Francesca J. Cuthbert
Florida. 4/6/2008. © Jerry Jourdan
(Click to view a comparison of Atlas I to II)
Weighing up to 15 pounds (6.8 kg) and with a were described as transients. These observations were scattered throughout the state but most wingspan of nine feet (2.7 m), the American were in the LP and were associated with the White Pelican is among the largest birds in the Great Lakes as well as several inland sites (e.g. world. In the U.S., this species is found Houghton Lake). During MBBA I, the only primarily in the western and southern regions of observations for this species were from the country, but its range is slowly moving Manistee and Monroe counties, and Isle Royale eastward into the Great Lakes. The first National Park. At this time, the species was still confirmed breeding in Michigan was in 1999 a non-breeder. By the time of the current during the third Great Lakes Colonial Waterbird MBBA II survey, pelicans were nesting Census when a research team (Cuthbert et al. irregularly and in small numbers on one island 2003) found nests with eggs and young on an in Michigan. Sightings, however, were reported island in Delta County. from nine counties inland in the SLP and at
coastal sites in lakes Michigan and Huron in Distribution both the NLP and UP. Recent observations by F. A major region of the breeding range of the Cuthbert and N. Seefelt indicate there is American White Pelican in North America is potential for pelicans to nest at other locations in the northern Great Plains. Although significant the state. For example, since 2005, groups of 6- breeding extends into Minnesota (Wires et al. 20 pelicans have been recorded on three islands 2006), the first nesting in the Great Lakes was in the Beaver Island Archipelago and flocks of not confirmed until 1994 in Green Bay, up to 15 birds have been seen at other locations Wisconsin (Cutright et al. 2006). This in northern Lake Michigan. population grew to more than 800 pairs by 2007
(Cuthbert unpubl. data) and birds produced in Breeding Biology Wisconsin are likely the source of Michigan’s American White Pelicans arrive in the Great breeding pelicans as well as the origin of Lakes region in late April. They nest in colonies Michigan summer non-breeding records. Wood on islands < 4 ha in size and typically share (1951) identified at least 14 definite records of these sites with other species of colonial nesting this species in Michigan prior to 1950 but all birds. Pelican colonies in Wisconsin’s Lake
© 2011 Kalamazoo Nature Center American White Pelican (Pelecanus erythrorhynchos) Francesca J. Cuthbert
Michigan waters range from several up to 300- Conservation Needs 400 pairs. The nest is a shallow depression in Until the early 1960s, the continental population the ground and usually there is no lining. Nests of American White Pelicans was considered are typically found in bare areas of sand or loose threatened by combinations of changing water cobble and may be under woody vegetation. levels, human disturbance and possibly contaminants. The population has since The clutch size is typically two eggs and recovered and continues to increase at >3%/year incubation is about 30 days; young usually (Knopf and Evans 2004). Although pelicans in remain at the colony site for almost three Michigan are sensitive to the same threats as months. Unlike the Brown Pelican, American reported elsewhere in their range, the most White Pelicans do not dive for their food (Knopf important conservation action to encourage and Evans 2004). They typically feed in breeding by this species is to prevent all human marshes or along lake edges; they forage in access to islands used by pelicans. Any site used groups, surround fish in shallow water and then for nesting or extended roosting by non- scoop up prey in their pouches. breeding pelicans during the breeding season (especially May and June) should be identified Abundance and Population Trends as a potential breeding site and protected as Wood (1951) described the American White such. Because this species is a recent breeder in Pelican as a rare straggler and summer visitant Michigan and not well established, human in Michigan. This status continued through the presence at nesting or roosting sites will likely MBBA I. Beginning in the 1990s, pelican cause desertion (Knopf and Evans 2004; Carney sightings increased in Michigan and this is and Syderman 1999). demonstrated by the MBBA II survey data. The first nesting of this species in Michigan was discovered on Little Gull Island (Delta County). On 18 June 1999 ten nests were recorded (Cuthbert et al. 2003). This site was revisited in 2000, but only three juveniles were present. On 17 May 2006, while conducting an aerial survey for nesting waterbirds, F. Cuthbert (unpubl. data) photographed 15 adult pelicans on Little Gull Island. On a return flight on 29 June in 2007 (Cuthbert and Wires 2008) nesting birds were observed. Aerial photos confirmed 17 nests and three eggs could be identified below three different adults standing in their nests. Estimates from the Great Lakes Colonial Waterbird Census confirm that the pelican population in northwestern Lake Michigan (Wisconsin and Michigan) had a total of 162 pairs in 1999 and 858 pairs in 2007. Therefore, the trend in breeding pelican numbers over the past decade has increased significantly in Wisconsin but only by a few pairs in Michigan.
© 2011 Kalamazoo Nature Center American White Pelican (Pelecanus erythrorhynchos) Francesca J. Cuthbert
Literature Cited Suggested Citation
Carey, K.M and W.J. Syderman. 1999. A Cuthbert, F.J. 2011. American White Pelican review of human disturbance effects on (Pelecanus erythrorhynchos). In Chartier, nesting colonial waterbirds. Waterbirds 22: A.T., J.J. Baldy, and J.M. Brenneman (eds.). 68-79. 2010-2011. The Second Michigan Breeding Cuthbert, F.J. and L.R. Wires. 2008. Long-term Bird Atlas. Kalamazoo Nature Center. monitoring of colonial waterbird populations Kalamazoo, MI. Accessed online at: in the U.S. Great Lakes: Improving the
© 2011 Kalamazoo Nature Center