Baby pelican chicks 



He's speculating that the boom in 

 pelican populations can be traced to more 

 natural events. 



"Number one, I think a series of 

 warmer winters that we've had over the last 

 decade has contributed to the pelican 

 moving northward into North Carolina and 

 Virginia," he says. "You see, a pelican is a 

 warm-weather bird. We've had a couple 

 real cold spells in the last couple years and 

 a lot of pelicans have died. But the warmer 

 winters in general have helped them." 



Also, Parnell says the rise in the 

 numbers of pelicans has increased along 

 with the rise in the number of juvenile 

 menhaden off the coast. 



The increase in menhaden schools 

 might be the result of a recent state law 



that forbids fishermen to seek these fish 

 within one mile of shore. 



"I'm not sure why the menhaden have 

 increased," Parnell says. "I just know that I 



WE'VE NEVER R E A L LY LINKED 

 TO HE DECLINE 

 OF THE PELICAN HERE." 



JAMES PARNELL 



don't see as many of those menhaden 

 boats as I used to." 



The pelican's penchant for clear, 

 unmurky water is satisfied in North 



Carolina's large coastal sounds. 



"They're visual feeders," Parnell says. 

 "A pelican must be able to see its prey. 

 That's easier for him to do here than in 

 other locations." 



These ideas are speculative, Parnell 

 says. But there are people who are 

 beginning serious study of the possibilities. 



In any case, he sees the upswing in 

 pelican populations as long-term. "The 

 trend is going nicely upward and will 

 probably stay that way for a long time," he 

 says. "And that's encouraging, because 

 birds, especially fish-eating birds, are a 

 good indicator of the general health of an 

 area. If the pelican is any indication, our 

 coastal areas are in better shape than some 

 people think." 



COASTXVATCH 13 



