THE BROWN PELICAN – A TRUE SURVIVOR
By Jim Foster
Traveling brings entertainment as well as education and even a confirmation of Knowledge already acquired. Looking over the water at a small lake near Franklin, Texas it was a pleasure to see a flight of white pelicans sailing a foot over the water in a seemingly effortless kind of flight.
I have seen this flight pattern along the coast but by another species of pelican, the once endangered brown pelican.
Unique among the world's seven species of pelicans, the Brown Pelican is found along the ocean shores and not on inland lakes as is it’s white cousin. It is the only dark pelican, and also the only one that plunges from the air into the water to catch its food.
Pesticide poisoning, especially by DDT, caused severe declines across the range in the late 1950's and the extirpation from Louisiana ("the pelican state"). It was listed as Endangered throughout the range in 1970. The ban on DDT led to a population recovery, and it was removed from the Endangered Species list in Atlantic Coast states in 1985.
In Texas breeding numbers are increasing at a steady rate and the total population in the United States now exceeds historical levels.
Unlike most birds, which warm their eggs with the skin of their breasts, pelicans incubate their eggs with their feet. They hold the eggs under the webs that stretch from the front toes to the hind toe, essentially standing on the eggs to warm them. This peculiar incubation method made them vulnerable to the effects of the pesticide DDT.
The DDT made the eggshells thin, and the incubating parents frequently cracked their eggs. Thin eggshells were also a large reason for the decline of the bald eagle.
A rather interesting fact observed on a recent trip to Port Aransas is when the Brown Pelican is draining water from its bill after a dive; gulls often try to steal the fish right out of its pouch. They sometimes even perch on the pelican's head or back and reach in.
The pelican will also follow fishing boats and will hang around piers for handouts from anglers cleaning their catch.
For bird watchers and those who just enjoy watching nature the brown pelican is an interesting and amazing bird.
If you have comments or news for Jim Foster please email him at: jim@jimfosteroutdoors.com
