Hobbies And Interests
Appearance
The brown pelican is actually only partially brown in color. Its body is brown, although the bird typically has a white belly and neck, with a pale yellow head. Its throat pouch -- which can hold more than 2 gallons of water -- is reddish orange. However, during mating season, this pouch will turn into a bright poppy red color. Brown pelicans can weigh up to 8 lbs., with the males of the species growing larger than the females. The bird's wing span is nearly 7 feet across.
Eating
The brown pelican is a specialized hunter, even among the pelican family. It is the only species of pelican that will plunge into the water from the air to catch its food. The bird will soar above the water, searching for fish, which it can spot from 20 to 60 feet away. When it sees its meal, the brown pelican will dive head-first into the water toward the fish from up to 30 feet in the air. The bird catches the fish in its extended throat pouch, draining the water from the sides of its large bill before swallowing the meal.
Breeding and Nesting
There are only a couple California brown pelican breeding colonies in the western United States: Santa Barbara islands and the Channel Islands National Park, both of which are located in California. These preservations are closely monitored to protect the breeding birds and their young. A brown pelican will lay between one to four eggs. Unlike other birds, which warm eggs with their breasts, brown pelicans keep their eggs incubated under their feet.
Threats
During the first half of the 20th century, brown pelicans were shot for their feathers. Pesticide poisoning, especially from DDT, also lead to the decline of the species during the 1950s. In the 1970s, the bird was added to the Endangered Species list. However, after the ban of DDT, as well as conservation efforts around the California and the rest of the country, the brown pelican's population has recovered. It was removed from the Endangered Species list in 2009.