Pelicans

On a recent trip to Ft. Myers Beach, I enjoyed a morning walk on the fishing pier that juts out into the bay. I managed to take some photos of a beautiful Brown pelican who obviously was awaiting some great treat from an unsuspecting fisherman. There were several pelicans that seemed to be taking turns at sitting on the pier. They seemed perfectly comfortable in front of the camera, as though they were experienced models! Their cohorts, meanwhile, were soaring and gliding above the water, now and then diving down into the ocean and then surfacing with something in their massive bills. I was fascinated by one in particular, that filled its pouch to overflowing. What intrigued me the most was the size of the birds.

Pelicans are among the largest birds on our planet! There are actually 8 species of pelicans. They hail from the Kingdom Animalia, the Phylum Chordata, the Subphylum Vertegrata, the Class Aves, the Order Pelecaniformes, the Family Pelecanidae, and the Genus Pelecannus.

Pelicans make their homes on the ground, with the exception of the spotted billed pelican, a native to Asia. The European pelican is very close in appearance and habits of the American pelicans. The major species that we will learn about are the Brown pelican and the American white pelican.

The Brown Pelican: species Pelecanus occidentalis

This large bird is a neotropical migrant that summers throughout the coastal areas of the United States. Summer is breeding season, and the Brown pelican migrates to coastal waters. They make their nests on beaches, salt bays, and islands that have mangroves or other trees. Brown pelicans spend their winters in the southernmost areas of the states as well as South America; mainly Brazil and Chile. Although its numbers are making a fairly strong comeback, the Brown pelican is still an endangered species. How did such a strong, intelligent bird become endangered?

In the 1800’s, pelicans were hunted for their beautiful feathers. The feathers became extremely popular adorning ladies hats, and other such garments. Fisherman found that they were competing with the pelicans for fresh daily catches. They encouraged the hunting and removal of the birds to simplify their livelihood. As a result, the number of Brown pelicans dwindled rapidly.

In 1903, the first National Wildlife Refuge was established. This organization worked diligently to protect the remaining pelicans. The numbers remained steady until after World War II, when the birds were exposed to pesticides, mainly DDT. The damage manifested itself during reproduction. Eggs were formed with thin, brittle shells, allowing damage and death to the unborn birds. By 1973, the Brown pelican was destined to become an extinct species unless drastic measures were taken to preserve it.

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