Brown Pelican – LandingPelecanus occidentalis October – Texas L=51”......WS=79”......WT=8.2lb Order: Pelecaniformes (Totipalmate Birds) Family: Pelecanidae (Pelicans) Brown Pelicans nearly disappeared in North America from the late 1950’s through the early 1970’s due to the man made pesticide endrin entering the marine food chain. By 1963 the Brown Pelican disappeared completely in Louisiana, the “Pelican State”, and in 1970 it was declared an Endangered Species. In 1972 legislation banning or reducing the use of several pesticides was enacted and the population began to increase. In 1985 the Brown Pelican was removed from the Endangered Species list in the southeastern U.S. and by the late the 1990’s populations returned to pre-pesticide levels. Now the Brown Pelican is considered one of the great success stories in wildlife conservation. Brown Pelicans are found almost exclusively in marine habitats although this particular bird was found about 100 miles inland on a freshwater lake about one month after Hurricane Ike landed. They catch their prey not by swimming and dipping their bill in the water like all other pelicans, but rather by plunging from flight or perches into the water and catching the unsuspecting prey.
Black-bellied Whistling-Duck – LoafingDendrocygna autumnalis December – Texas L=21”...... WS=30” ...... WT=1.8 lb Order: Anseriformes (Ducks, Geese Swans) Family: Aatidae (Ducks, Geese Swans) Black-bellied Whistling-Ducks are more arboreal than most ducks and will frequently be seen loafing in trees and even on barbed wire or telephone lines. Prior to being renamed “whistling-ducks” this species was called the Black-bellied Tree Duck. They are gregarious and are found in large flocks. When loafing or foraging it is common for sentries to watch for threats. Individuals form lifelong pairs and will separate from a flock in breeding season. Usually they nest in tree cavities. Their young are precocial (i.e. born with open eyes, downy feathers, and are capable of locomotion within a few hours of hatching) and will jump from the nest within 24 hours of hatching. To soften the fall from the 8-30 foot height parents will find or create a landing area that has thick herbaceous matter.
Black-bellied Whistling-Duck – LoafingDendrocygna autumnalis December – Texas L=21”...... WS=30” ...... WT=1.8 lb Order: Anseriformes (Ducks, Geese Swans) Family: Aatidae (Ducks, Geese Swans)
