| Pelican, Brown | |||
| Genus | Pelecanus | ||
| Species | occidentalis | ||
| Status | Endangered | ||
| Habitat | Coastlines | ||
| Distribution | United States (Carolinas to Texas, California, Oregon, Washington), West Indies, coastal Central and South America | ||
| Length | 48 inches (122 cm) | ||
| Wingspan | 84 inches (213 cm) | ||
| Behavior | The brown pelican is the only species of pelican that prefers the ocean to freshwater lakes. It likes to live on the coastlines, where it can feed off the fish that live there. | ||
| Feeding | The pelican will soar over the ocean, looking for food. When it spots a suitable prey, it will dive from a great height straight down for the water. Just before the pelican hits, its wings fold back and its neck shoots forward. Special air sacks on the pelican's chest cushion the animal as it comes into contact with the ocean surface. The blow of the diving creature stuns the fish, and the pelican then uses its huge mouth like a net to scoop them up. The water drains out of its beak, and the fish remain. | ||
| Breeding | Brown pelicans build their nests close together in trees or mangroves. In these nests the chicks hatch without feathers, looking like baby dinosaurs. The first chicks to hatch are usually the largest, and will steal food from their younger brothers and sisters. Unless there is plenty of food, the largest will be the only ones likely to survive to adulthood. | ||
| Conservation |
Brown pelicans are endangered because of pesticides. DDT, a chemical used to control insects in the 1950s, had a devastating effect on these birds. Waste from DDT factories were dumped into the oceans, where fish were poisoned by the chemical The birds would eat the fish, so that huge amounts of this harmful substance built up in their bodies. Their eggs were weakened by the insecticide, so that the shells cracked open as soon as they were laid. The baby pelicans inside then died.
Before DDT was introduced into the ecosystem, 5000 pairs of brown pelicans lived on one California island. By 1968, there were only 100. By 1969, there were 12. In Florida, the brown pelican faced habitat loss to developers, who destroyed their nesting sites to build houses, resorts, and condominiums. In 1972, DDT use was restricted by law. Despite this, the brown pelican population has not yet recovered. Some scientists think that many of the fish the brown pelican eats have been killed by global warming (which is a result of pollution). | ||
| Interesting Facts | During the first year of their lives, brown pelicans are brown in color. But they turn grayish in their second year. By the time they are three years old, they take on adult colors. | ||
| Animal Communication Panel | |||
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