NATURALIST'S 



NOTEBOOK 



Pelicans are among many nongame 

 species protected by the N.C. Wildlife 

 Resource Commission's Nongame and 

 Endangered Wildlife Program. David Allen, 

 who leads the Colonial Waterbird Conservation 

 project, says staff manage 21 state-owned 

 coastal islands and collaborate with other state, 



A number of state, federal and private 

 agencies collaborate in managing and 

 protecting sensitive brown pelican nesting 

 habitat. The state 's pelican population has 

 soared since the 1980s, coinciding with the 

 creation ofdedge spoil islands. The lack of 

 predation on these undisturbed sites increases 

 survival rate for the vulnerable young. 



federal and private agencies, including Audubon, 

 in managing and protecting sensitive habitat. 



But one devastating human threat remains 

 — discarded fishing line. "We find lots of 

 pelicans entangled in fishing line — usually 

 dead," Golder says. The monofilament line 

 wraps around their legs or wings, and can even 

 wrap around young birds if dragged back to the 

 nest. "They die a very slow, struggling death," 

 says Golder. 



Although the pelican life is not perfect. 

 North Carolina has yet another bonus. If an ideal 

 home and freedom from predation isn't 

 tantalizing enough, throw in an abundant food 

 supply, and it must be close to bird heaven. 



A sharp decline of North Carolina's 

 menhaden commercial fishing industry is an 

 equally important factor in attracting brown 

 pelicans, Lee says. One of the birds' staple 

 foods, plentiful menhaden keep pelicans in 



North Carolina year-round. 



But some pelicans 

 don't even bother trying to 

 catch their own food. These 

 birds find the easiest way to 

 eat is to loiter around fishing 

 wharves where they receive 

 free handouts. Sick and 

 injured pelicans that 

 ordinarily would not survive 

 also take advantage of these 

 handouts. 



"Things are really pro- 

 pelican these days," Lee 

 says. "There's no way a 

 biologist would have 

 predicted what has 

 happened with the pelicans. 

 They're beyond common." 

 From less than 100 

 nesting pairs to an estimated several thousand, 

 North Carolina exemplifies the successful 

 comeback of the pelican. Golder says, "With 

 good food and good, safe nesting sites, pelicans 

 should continue to do well." □ 



For more information on bro\m pelicans 

 and the North Carolina Audubon Society, visit 

 the Web at www.ncaudubon.org. 



A FEW FUN FACTS 



• White pelicans, Pelicanus 

 eiythrorhynchos, are neither common to 

 North Carolina, nor are they marine 

 birds. During winter months, however, 

 these birds occasionally will rest by 

 North Carolina's marine waters. 



• Harassing pelicans is not advised. 

 'You don't want to mess with a 

 pelican," Lee says. 'They won't take an 

 arm off, but there can be blood." His 

 advice: "Let the pelicans be pelicans." 



• When nesting, pelicans follow a 

 definite pecking order. Upon returning 

 from migration, the oldest arrive first. 

 They secure the safest, innermost 

 nesting spots, while the youngest 



are left to hold their own at the 

 colony's edge. 



• In dense colonies, pelicans must 

 be careful to build nests at least one 

 beak's length apart. Otherwise, their 

 nest will disappear bit by bit — thanks 

 to thieving neighbors. 



• Pelican colonies are quite noisy. 

 Adult pelican sounds have been 

 compared to the bray of a donkey 

 and the grunt of a pig. Younger 

 pelicans just bark. 



COASTWA TCH 29 



