Saved From The Brink:  De-Listing Of The Brown Pelican

By Shannon Lyday
Published: June 2006

Nesting Brown Pelicans.
Photo Credit: GFNMS

The Endangered Species Recovery Council proposed to de-list the California Brown Pelican (Pelecanus occidentalis californicus) from the federal list of endangered and threatened species in May 2006.  Under the Endangered Species Act (ESA) of 1973, a species can be de-listed if scientific and commercial data determine that 1) the species is considered extinct, 2) the species is considered to be recovered or 3) the original data available when the species was listed were in error.  In response to the petition for de-listing, the United States Fish and Wildlife Service initiated a 90-day finding review to determine if the petition is warranted. 

The Brown Pelican was first listed on June 02, 1970, after the population numbers plummeted in the 1960’s.  The decline was attributed to the consumption of fish that contained DDT and other insecticides, which caused the thinning and breaking of eggs.

The Brown Pelican started to make a remarkable recovery with the decreased use of DDT, which was banned in the U.S. in 1972.  In 1985 the pelican was de-listed on the Atlantic coast, Florida and Alabama.  The current de-listing proposal applies to the endangered designation of the California subspecies.  In California, the number of birds in the breeding population has steadily increased from 100 nest attempts in the early 70’s, to the current 4000-6000 nesting attempts every year at West Anacapa Island, in southern California..  

Rich Stallcup, ornithologist said, "The Endangered Species Act is the best wildlife legislation ever written anywhere.  Legitimate delisting of any species that has recovered or reversed decline is validation for the ESA. It shows that it works!"   The recovery of the Brown Pelican on the California coast is exciting and uplifting, and their de-listing is sentiment to the power of recovery efforts like the ESA in bringing back near extinct populations.  It is a pleasure to see the long V-lines of synchronized Brown Pelicans flying the coast once again.  To find out more about the comeback of the Brown Pelican go to:  http://currents.ucsc.edu/05-06/06-12/pelicans.asp.  To take action see the FMSA webpage and write letters to your representatives about the importance of the ESA.