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Brown Pelican

The brown pelican is famous for its dramatic plunge-diving style, crashing headfirst into the ocean from up to 20 meters (65.6 feet) in the air to catch fish in its expandable pouch.

 

Brown pelicans are large, unmistakable seabirds with long bills, stretchy throat pouches, and broad wingspans that average 2 meters (6.6 feet). Their large pouch can hold up to 11.4 liters (3 gallons) of water — far more than what can fit in their stomach! These seabirds are found throughout both coasts of North and South America, depending on the time of year. They are regarded as strictly coastal birds typically found in warm, shallow waters not far from the shoreline and can be found lounging on sandbars, mangrove inlets, or breakwaters.  

Unsurprisingly, given their connection to the water, the brown pelican’s diet consists of mostly fish that they scoop up in their pouch, either from diving into the water or feeding while floating on the surface. They are typically solitary when feeding but come together in colonies to build their nests. Pelican pairs stay together for a full breeding season, during which they will build their nest together and raise their chicks.  

 

 

Historically, these iconic coastal birds were hunted for their feathers, prized in fashion, although legislation passed in the early 1900’s helped address this threat. In the 1950’s, brown pelicans faced a new threat from pesticide use, particularly DDT, which caused eggshell thinning. Following the banning of its general use in the United States, populations have been able to recover. Today, brown pelican populations are considered a species of Least Concern by the IUCN Red List, although they still face some threats from humans like entanglement in fishing gear and disturbances by humans in breeding colonies.

 

 

While brown pelicans were formerly endangered, they are now a success story, as they were the first species to be delisted after being put on the Endangered Species List. But now, the critical law is also under attack. Help defend this landmark legislation by telling Congress to defend the Endangered Species Act from any attempts to weaken it.

 

 

 

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