One of North America’s largest birds, the American White Pelican is distinctive for its nine-foot wingspan, conspicuous white body, and the improbable proportions of its large bill and pouch. Despite their size, the pelicans are graceful fliers, with flocks soaring high in the air and wheeling in unison. In flight, black wing tips and trailing edges are good field marks. American White Pelicans may be seen cooperatively foraging in shallow waters, or at adjacent loafing sites, where they are tolerant of human observation at a respectful distance.

The American White Pelican resides mainly in western and southern portions of North America, breeding in colonies in inland scattered locations from western Manitoba and Minnesota westward to northern California. The birds winter along the warm southern coasts of California, Mexico, the Gulf Coast, and Florida.

The continental population of American White Pelicans declined throughout the first half of the 20^th century. The species was considered threatened until the early 1960s, but has since made a substantial recovery. Christmas Bird Counts show increases, as do Breeding Bird Survey data, which indicate steadily and rapidly rising continental populations, which have increased at a rate of nearly four percent per year over the last 25 years. The most dramatic increases have taken place in Minnesota, North Dakota, and Wyoming.

 

An explanation of the Annual Population Indices graph displayed to the right can be found here.

The future of the American White Pelican was in jeopardy until the early 1960s, due to the combined effects of changing water levels, contaminants, and human disturbance--including shooting the birds for sport or to “protect” fishing. Since the 1960s, protective legislation, improved conservation efforts, and greater public awareness have all contributed to reversing population declines. However, protection remains inadequate in some areas. Shooting remains the greatest single source of mortality reported from band returns. Conflicts with catfish farms in the southeastern United States are a more recent concern.

 

Human disturbance and destruction of foraging and breeding habitat are primary limiting factors for pelicans. Especially during courtship and early incubation, American White Pelicans are highly sensitive to human intrusions into breeding colonies, which can cause nest desertion.

 

Censusing and research activities must take pelicans’ susceptibility to human disturbance into account. Protection of breeding colonies, continued vigilance for pesticide and mercury contamination, and protection of nesting and foraging habitat from permanent flooding or drainage are all recommended.

 

Where nesting habitat is limited, the creation of nesting islands made from soil or dredged material, located well offshore for protection from predators and humans, has been successful. Fencing to reduce coyote predation at selected sites has also proven effective.

Join beach cleanups in your area. Properly discarding of debris, particularly plastic, will prevent pelicans and other waterbirds from eating it.

 

Don’t discard used oil into city sewers or municipal water supplies. It can end up in the ocean where pelicans rest and feed.

 

Dispose of monofilament lines, hooks, and fishing lures properly; pelicans can become entangled in this gear.

 

Don’t disturb nesting pelicans when hiking or boating; prevent dogs and children from disturbing them. American White Pelicans are very sensitive to disturbance at breeding colonies; they are prone to desert or to leave eggs and young exposed to predators if approached.

 

Make environmentally-friendly seafood choices, which helps protect fish that pelicans and other waterbirds depend upon. Learn more at http://seafood.audubon.org or http://www.mbayaq.org/cr/seafoodwatch.asp

 

For actions you can take, including Audubon activities, please visit our resources page.

 

 Visit our resources page for more information about this species.

Knopf, F. L. (2004). American White Pelican (Pelecanus erythrorhynchos). The Birds of North America Online. (A. Poole, Ed.) Ithaca: Cornell Laboratory of Ornithology; Retrieved from The Birds of North American Online database: http://bna.birds.cornell.edu/BNA/account/American_White_Pelican/.

 

Kaufman, Kenn. 1996. Lives of North American Birds. Houghton Mifflin Company, New York.

 

Sibley, David Allen. The Sibley Guide to Birds. Alfred A. Knopf, Inc., New York, 2000