Subject: Brown Pelican observations
Date: Sep 21 14:32:04 1994
From: Charles E. Vaughan - cev at rocket.com


Eugene Hunn wrote:
>However, they are rare north and/or east of Cape Flattery though
>apparently not uncommon, even almost abundant (as on Willapa Bay & Grays
>Harbor in late summer & fall), all along our outer coast. A few straggle
>to interior salt waters, thus their rarity at Vancouver. There is one
>King County record to my knowledge.

Given the numbers I have seen I find this very interesting. This is similar
pattern to the Black Oystercatcher. However, aren't pelagic fish (pelican
prey) in the interior sound waters relatively more available than littoral
shell fish (oystercatcher prey)? What other factors would limit pelican
distribution?

Dennis Paulson wrote:
>In answer to Charles Vaughan's question, Brown Pelicans are common on the
>south coast but decline rapidly north of Ocean Shores and are rare anywhere
>in from Cape Flattery. Nothing to do with populated areas...

I agree, I really meant that population estimates may be biased by the
number of observers. The areas that I have seen large numbers of pelicans
are only accessible by backpacking. At times when I have seen *hundreds* of
Brown Pelicans (i.e. 1992) on the roadless portion of the coast I have come
back to find them reported as unusual sightings on RBAs.

Charles Vaughan
Woodinville, WA