The Endangered Birds of Florida

The Brown Pelican
Pelecanus occidentalis

The Brown Pelican has been removed from the Endangered List.

The Brown Pelican is a truly exciting bird to watch.

It dives from great heights and crashes into the water,

only to emerge seconds later with a mouthful

of what will eventually become its dinner.

These large, up to about 50 inches, waterbirds, have a

nearly 7 foot wing span and weigh about 8 pounds.

They may live up to 20 years, but many die early from starvation.

They have a large dark bill and a rather large pouch

with which to gather their food.

And if you ask anyone who has seen them,

this gathering of food is exactly what makes

the Brown Pelican such a spectacular sight.

The Brown Pelican can be found along the shorelines

of both the East and West Coasts of the U.S.

Having lived in both of these areas, I have been

lucky enough to have spent many years enjoying

their dramatic crashes into the water after their food.

Driving along a Coastline one can frequently see them

flying directly overhead as if they are following you.

They are so beautiful and yet so fragile.

We have not been kind to them in respect

to where they live and breed.

In California for years, Pelicans were treated quite beastly,

with crimes so unspeakable, that they cannot be written.

It would appear that there were just as many

incidents happening on the East Coast as well.

Brown Pelicans were guilty of being in direct competition

with fishermen who felt it was their right to

commit these horrific acts.

Earlier the widespread use of DDT had nearly wiped

them out due to egg failure and destruction.

DDT as it was proved, makes the shells of birds so thin,

that they crack and the babies die before they can be born.

This toxic chemical made a victim of the Brown Pelican,

just as it did the Bald Eagles and other Birds.

With DDT finally out of the way, the only thing that can harm

them now is Man and his insatiable appetite for Coastal living.

All those pretty Condos and lavish Hotels on the Beaches

have claimed many lives, they are called Wildlife.

And Birds are just one of the Species

whose waterfront homes have been lost.

Places to learn more:

Audubon

Florida's Imperiled Colonial Water Birds

Water Birds - Brown Pelican

Cornell

Brown Pelican

FWS

Brown Pelicans

Wildlife Viewing

Museum of Science - Miami

Everglades - Brown Pelican

SFWMD

Brown Pelican

USGS
Brown Pelicans

Walking with the Alligators

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Last edited January 23, 2010

    Gator visitors    since August 5, 2008

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