California Wildlife Center
Brown Pelican (Pelecanus Occidentalis)

Facts

• Average weight is 13 lbs, average wingspan 7 ft.
• Can live for 25-30 years
• Juveniles are brown with a white belly; they don't acquire adult plumage until 3rd year
• Adults are grayish brown with a white head, gray pouch, and black belly
• During breeding, pelican coloration changes to a yellow head and red pouch
• Birds can't sweat; the pouch helps pelicans to cool off in hot weather
• Brown pelicans fly with their head held back in a "Z" over their back
• Make spectacular head-first dives from up to 60 ft high to prey on fish in the ocean
• Air sacs beneath the pelican's skin cushion the impact, and help it to surface
• Fish are swallowed head first; if necessary, the bird tosses it in the air to get the head positioned correctly
• The expandable pouch below the pelican's bill can hold three times more than its stomach
• Breed on the ground on predator free islands or tree tops in coastal habitats
• Male pelicans gather materials for the nest and the female builds it.
• Egg laying typically occurs in March and April; incubation takes about one month
• Both parents incubate the 2-3 white eggs, and care for the young
• Young pelicans feed on regurgitated fish from their parent's pouches

People and Pelicans

• Brown pelicans in California are recovering from low numbers in the 1970s, largely due to habitat conservation and a reduction in pesticides, specifically DDTs, in the food chain. The pesticide weakened egg shells and reduced breeding success
• Food availability is now a major cause of concern for the brown pelican. The Pacific mackerel, Pacific sardine, and the Northern anchovy are important food for the pelican, especially during the breeding season. By the early 1900s, commercial over-harvesting of these fish had resulted in less food availability during this critical time
• Human development along the coast brings disturbance to the birds in their breeding and resting habitats. Nesting colonies are especially sensitive to human disturbance
• There is potential of a devastating oil spill from tanker traffic in the Santa Barbara Channel.
• Tanker traffic lanes are only a mile from a critical breeding colony at West Anacapa Island
• Other human hazards that brown pelicans face include entanglement in fishing lines, ingestion of fishing hooks and gun shot injuries
• Brown pelicans and fishermen have conflicts arising from competition for fish
• The brown pelican is protected under the Endangered Species Act; anyone found shooting, disturbing, or harming brown pelicans face prosecution from authorities

How to Coexist

1. Don't approach or harass brown pelicans, especially near nesting sites.
2. Don't feed brown pelicans fish or any other food.
3. Understand that if you use chum or bait fish, you will attract pelicans and other sea birds, as their natural prey is fish. After fishing, pick up used hooks and fishing line.
4. You can also help by keeping pollutants out of the marine environment. Don't dump toxic substances like oil, solvents, and other chemicals into waterways or into storm drains that lead to the ocean.