The Brown Pelican at the Dry Tortugas
Summer is here! It has been a great week at the Dry Tortugas National Park, even with the warmer weather and few afternoon showers. Our birders have been fascinated with the many different species they have seen this week. Out of all the magnificent creatures that call the Dry Tortugas home, there is one in particular that we consider one of the most interesting birds encountered along the Florida Birding Trail.
The Brown Pelican is our favorite bird spotted this week. Our visitors saw dozens of these birds perched on the mangroves during the week. This beautiful bird is a faithful resident of Florida where it resorts to the Dry Tortugas and salt-water inlets. It is distinguished by its rather large body with a six and one-half foot wingspan. Its bill is very long and its gulag pouch very large, holding up to three gallons of water. Of all the pelicans, the Brown Pelican is the darkest plumed. Its body is grayish-brown with a blackish-colored belly. During flight, the neck of the Brown Pelican is folded back on the body.
Being a coastal bird, the Brown Pelican is obviously rarely seen away from the ocean. Those on the Pacific Coast nest on islands off the coasts of Mexico and Southern California. They move north along the coast after the breeding season, intermittently to shallow marine areas, such as offshore islands, breakwaters, spits, bays, and open sandy beaches. These pelicans will generally sleep on land while standing on two feet or resting on their belly.
Plunging headfirst into the water, this pelican dives from 30 feet or more to catch fish. If successful in the catch, they toss their heads back to swallow the fish. Their diet consists mostly of fish, such as anchovies and smelt. Occasionally, they eat some crustaceans, or they may be lucky enough to receive handouts from the fishermen.
These pelicans nest in low trees, on cliffs, or on the ground. The female constructs the nest from material gathered by the male. Usually the nest is a simple scrape lined with feathers and a few twigs, or perhaps just a large stick nest in a tree. The female lays a usual brood of three eggs each year, with both parents incubating. After about five weeks, the young may leave the ground nest, but those in the tree nests sometimes stay an additional two weeks. After fledging, the young will gather in groups, but the parents will recognize and continue feeding their own.
Join us this week for a glimpse of these magnificent birds. But no matter when you come, the trip will no doubt be unforgettable. It is always wise to bring sunscreen and maybe sunglasses and hats, as well.