Chapter 3 - Natural Resources - Marine Corps Base Camp Pendleton

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MCB Camp Pendleton, California 3.2.4.2. California Brown Pelican (Pelecanus occidentalis californicus) FIGURE 3-9. BROWN PELICAN (PHOTO SOURCE: USFWS) The California brown pelican (Pelecanus occidentalis californicus) is a large, grayish-brown bird with a long, pouched bill (CDFG 2005). The adult has a white head and dark body, but immature birds are dark with a white belly. They measure up to 54 inches long, weigh 8 to 10 pounds, and have a wingspan of 6.5 to 7.5 feet. Pelicans primarily eat fish, especially sardines and anchovies on the Pacific Coast, but are also know to eat some crustaceans. Their eyesight is very sharp, and they are able to spot single or schools of fish from 60 to 70 feet above. They dive steeply into the water in pursuit of prey, and may submerge partially or completely depending upon the height of the dive; air sacs beneath their skin cushion the impact and assist in surfacing. The pouched bill can hold up to three times as much fish as the pelican’s stomach can hold, and up to three gallons of water is squeezed-out after a catch before the prey is swallowed; it also serves as a cooling mechanism in hot weather, or a feeding-trough for the young (USFWS 2009j). The Pelecanus occidentalis californicus subspecies ranges from California south to Colima, Mexico, which includes the Gulf of California (USFWS 2008k). The habitat of the California brown pelican is mainly coastal, and they are rarely seen inland (with the exception of the Salton Sea on the west coast) or far out at sea. Brown pelicans usually begin breeding at 3 to 5 years old in large gregarious colonies; males bring nesting materials to the females to build nesting sites which are typically placed in bushes, on the ground or in treetops. Along the west coast of North America, egg laying (typically 2 to 3 chalky white eggs) may occur from late winter to early spring (peak usually in March or April, but may vary among colonies and from year-to-year) (NatureServe 2005 & USFWS 2009j). Both parents share in incubating the eggs and raising the young. Eggs hatch in about a month and freshly hatched pelicans are born blind, featherless and altricial, but soon develop soft silky down and feathers; average first flight is at 75 days old (USFWS 2009j). Threats to populations include pesticide/chemical pollution, human disturbance, habitat degradation, oil-spills, disease and unpredictable food supplies (USFWS 2008k). MANAGEMENT STATUS Federal Status The USFWS listed the California brown pelican (Pelecanus occidentalis californicus) as federally endangered on 2 June 1970 (USFWS 1970a, b). No critical habitat has been designated for the California brown pelican by the USFWS; however, a recovery plan was approved (USFWS 1983). On 24 May 2006, a 90-Day Finding on a Petition to Delist the 3-36 Chapter 3 – Natural Resources
Integrated Natural Resources Management Plan [March 2012 - Update] California brown pelican and Initiation of a 5-Year Review was approved by the USFWS. This finding was based upon significant scientific evidence of recovery of the subspecies throughout its range as presented in the petition (USFWS 2006h). On 20 February 2008, a 12-Month Petition Finding and Proposed Rule to delist the California brown pelican by the USFWS recommended that the species be removed from the Federal List of Endangered and Threatened Wildlife due to recovery; delisting was finalized on 17 December 2009. The California brown pelican remains protected under the MBTA, the Fish and Wildlife Coordination Act, and the Estuary Protection Act (USFWS 2008k & 2009i). California Status The CDFG listed the brown pelican as an endangered, fully protected species on 27 June 1971 (CDFG 2005). On 19 December 2008, the California brown pelican was recommended as a State Candidate for Delisting (SCD) by the CDFG, and on 5 February 2009 the recommendation for delisting was adopted (CDFG 2008 & SCFGC 2008). The CDFG finding was based upon the following criteria: 1) the breeding population size of the California brown pelican in the Channel Islands has increased from 1969 to the present, after the banning of DDT, and now exceeds the five-year mean 3,000 pair standard noted in the recovery plan (current Channel Islands population size for 2006 is roughly 8,500 breeding pairs); 2) California brown pelicans have gradually expanded their nesting sites in the Channel Islands to former breeding sites, and numbers on Santa Barbara Island have increased substantially since 2001; 3) productivity has increased to 0.7 and now meets or exceeds the five-year mean 0.7 standard noted in the recovery plan for downlisting; 4) relative to the five-year mean standard for fledged young in the recovery plan, brown pelicans at West Anacapa Island have achieved the 2,700 fledgling standard for delisting 9 times from 1997-2005; 5) in spite of known threats (e.g., oil spills, human disturbance, starvation events, domoic acid poisoning, fish hook/line mortality), the breeding population of brown pelicans in California has increased substantially; and 6) nesting sites are under generally-protective NPS ownership or management. The California brown pelican will remain a fully protected species under Fish and Game Code section 3511(b)(2) (SCFGC 2008). Regional Status The California brown pelican is a covered species in the following southern California NCCP documents: • Cal. Dept. of Corrections Statewide Electrified Fence Project. • MHCP, City of Carlsbad Habitat Management Plan. • MSCP, City of Chula Vista Subarea Plan. • MSCP, City of La Mesa Subarea Plan. • MSCP, City of Poway Subarea Plan. • MSCP, City of San Diego Subarea Plan. • MSCP, County of San Diego Subarea Plan. • SDG&E. Chapter 3 – Natural Resources 3-37
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Chapter 3 - Natural Resources - Marine Corps Base Camp Pendleton

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