Helping St. Andrew Bay’s Brown Pelicans

Though today they are a common sight along the Gulf of Mexico, there was a time when brown pelicans nearly disappeared forever. Between the late 1950s and early 1970s, pesticides in their food caused these icons of the Gulf Coast to decline rapidly. Their plight was so severe that the species was listed as endangered in 1970. Their decline, along with that of the bald eagle and peregrine falcon, led to the ban on DDT in 1972 and to regulations reducing the use of other pesticides.

Thanks to these protections, brown pelican populations in Florida and along the Atlantic rebounded to their pre-pesticide numbers by the late 1990s. Their spectacular recovery allowed these charismatic birds to be removed from the endangered species list, but they remain protected by the Migratory Bird Treaty Act and as a Florida-listed Species of Special Concern. Though pesticides are not as much a threat to them anymore, brown pelicans still have to contend with other human-caused issues like oil spills and abandoned fishing lines. It has been estimated that more than 700 pelicans die each year in Florida from entanglement in sport-fishing gear.

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Audubon Island in St. Andrew Bay is a man-made island created by sand dredged from nearby shipping channels. Residential and commercial development has given wildlife few places they can live undisturbed, making islands like this an essential oasis for brown pelicans and laughing gulls looking to nest. Pelicans incubate their eggs with the skin of their feet, essentially standing on the eggs to keep them warm. If the pelicans are suddenly disturbed, say by a passing car horn or a person shouting, they take flight hastily, sometimes accidentally crushing their eggs in the process. This is why isolated nesting areas like Audubon Island are so important to the survival of this species.

Over the past two decades, storms have washed away much of the vegetation from the island. This puts brown pelicans, which build their nests out of grass, reeds, and sticks laid on the ground, in a tough spot when they arrive ready to nest. So every spring since the early 1990s, volunteers have helped the Florida Fish and Wildlife Commission haul branches and moss donated by local tree-trimming companies to the island by boat for much needed nesting materials. This year, we’re thrilled to be involved in this effort, gathering Defenders’ supporters and volunteers from across the region to help transport these vital materials.

Since the island is one of only a few nesting sites for brown pelicans in St. Andrew Bay, our work is crucial to the future of this charismatic bird along this portion of the Gulf Coast. We look forward to being part of the effort to help these brown pelicans survive and thrive.