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On a craggy beach in Central California, brown pelicans gather on rocky promontory, packed like swift flyers as they fly by to feed on a huge shoal of fish just offshore. Whitecaps churn the water when large-billed birds dive below the surface in search of northern anchovies, Calm Sardines and mackerel.
If on the ground they look awkward and wobbly, once in the air they look beautiful. The signature pouch hanging below the lower bill can draw up to 3 gallons of water with every dip into the ocean – the largest pouch of any bird in the world.
Scientists call this “feeding frenzy.” And it’s an encouraging sign for a bird that has struggled in recent years with warming oceans, inconsistent breeding patterns and toxic algae blooms. Southern California,
“I would say the population is somewhat stable, but some events are worrisome,” says seabird biologist Tammy Russell, a postdoctoral researcher at the Scripps Institution of Oceanography at the University of California, San Diego.
“Several seabirds are a good sign for the marine environment,” Russell said.
On this warm, clear day, thousands of birds flock to the nearby beaches and rocks, attracted by the abundant food. Cormorants and gulls mingle with pelicans. The relentless roar of the waves and the sound of birds crying can all be heard on this jutting jaw of the coast.
The bird’s range on the Pacific coast extends to British Columbia, CanadaIn MexicoIn its struggle for survival, Russell notes that the California brown pelican was once on the federal endangered species list because of a sharp population decline due to the pesticide DDT, which causes eggshells to thin, The population recovered and the bird was delisted in 2009, although it still faces many challenges,
They are large birds, with adults weighing about 8 pounds and having a wingspan of about 7 feet. And because they are large, they need large amounts of fish every day, which is their favorite food.
“When they don’t get that, they can crash very quickly,” Russell said.
If the water warms, the fish may move into deeper, cooler water, making it more difficult for the birds to forage. Last year, large numbers of sick and hungry pelicans were found in coastal California communities, and many more died. Wildlife officials were stunned in 2022 when large numbers of California brown pelicans were found sick and dying.
Earlier this year, toxic algae blooms poisoned pelicans and other marine animals along the coast.
Scientist We’re still learning how birds respond to changes in their environment, Russell said. They are now using electronic leg bands to follow the birds on their journey.
As the larger birds slowly move south toward the California coast or Mexico’s islands to breed, “It’s encouraging to see a group of pelicans feeding and doing well,” Russell said.