Iconic Beach Entertainment: Pacific Brown Pelican
Tara A. Spears
In the tropics there’s a saying ‘take time to watch the pelicans’. It’s a guaranteed method to unwind and relax, especially if you add a cold brew to the experience. The heavy set sea bird, Pacific Brown Pelicans (Pelecanus occidentalis pacifica) is one of only two sea bird species that can dive for it’s food. The Riviera Nayarit is home to many permanent resident species of seabirds, including the comic pelican, besides being in the migratory flyway for dozens of other types of birds. These birds play an important role in the coastal ecosystem. Pelican populations are closely linked to their food source populations along the Pacific Coastline.
The distinctive chunky shape and unique coloration makes it easy to identify the pelican whether flying in dense formation or bobbing in flocks on the water or beach. Pelicans are easily identified by their large bills and stretchable pouches. The pouch is used to capture fish, which the pelican usually swallows immediately. Although the brown pelicans are the smallest of the pelican species, they are still large seabirds and can weigh up to eight pounds (almost 3 kilos), with a huge wingspan of over 6 feet (2 meters)! Males are usually larger and heavier than females.
Adults are gray to brown with white and yellowish heads. Sexual maturity is reached after three to five years. In the wild, brown pelicans may live 15 to 25 years. The sexes look similar, though males are slightly larger, with short, dark legs, long, broad wings, a large, heavy all-brown body, white neck, pale yellow face, and a huge bill that is paler at the base and tipped with yellow.
The pelicans primarily eat fish of little value to humans, as well as salamanders, shrimp, and crayfish. During breeding season, the birds often forage at night, locating fish by touch. While small fish are the major part of their diet, they can eat surprisingly large ones. Brown pelicans also eat some invertebrates, such as squid. They are a familiar sight around fishing ports within their range, where they roost on piers, docks, and fishing boats, ready to catch fish scraps.
The beautiful island sanctuary, Isla del Coral, in Jaltemba Bay is a protected breeding spot for several species of seabirds, including the Pacific Brown pelican. Pelicans nest in colonies for safety. Both sexes build the nest which is a scrap or debris mound on the ground, or a stick nest in a tree. Nesting on islands is preferred. Pelicans usually lay two or three eggs. Both parents care for the naked, helpless chicks. They feed their chicks by regurgitating a kind of “fish soup” until the chicks are two weeks old.
During breeding season, pelican colonies are sensitive to disturbance by tourists and fisherman. Adult birds can be frightened off their nests, and newly hatched chicks can die quickly in the blazing sun. Their skittishness is understandable: For centuries, many fishermen have considered the birds as competitors for fish, and in the past, the fishermen often raided pelican colonies to kill the birds.
There are several myths connected to pelicans. The indigenous peoples of Mexico revered many birds, including pelicans, as ancient gods. Pelican feathers have appeared in many carvings and ritual garments that have been recovered. Additionally, because of an early Western Christian myth that the birds split open their breasts to feed their starving chicks, pelicans have long been a symbol of mercy and altruism.
Leave the Brown Bears and heavy clothes behind and enjoy the antics of the southern latitude Pacific Brown Pelicans. Margaritas and Pacifico go especially well with pelican watching-hey, you can say it’s for science! Sun, sand, pelicans: that’s my happy place.
