Podcast: Galveston's Pelicans: A Conservation Success Story

You can see them gliding gracefully through the air or perched, preening along rocks. Squadrons of pelicans live on or around Galveston Island all year... And what do you call a group of pelicans? Well, the term "squadron" is actually an accepted term for a group of pelicans, but you can also say a "pod," a "pouch," "brief," or my personal favorite, a "scoop" of pelicans.

If these massive birds look a little prehistoric to you, It's because they've been around for a very, very long time. The earliest known fossil evidence for pelicans as we know them, or at least a close relative, comes from Egypt and dates back to 36 million years ago. There are 8 species of pelicans around the world, but only 2 are present around Galveston, the American White Pelican and the Brown Pelican.

Galveston's unique position along the Gulf has made it a hub for maritime activity for centuries. Early explorers and settlers marveled at the abundance of seabirds, including pelicans, which thrived along the island's shores. Indigenous peoples along the coast, and later fishermen, likely observed pelicans fishing techniques, recognizing them as experts at fishing long before modern conservation efforts.

In 1837, after arriving on Galveston Island, John James Audubon himself made note of these brown pelicans on and around Galveston Island. Pelicans are typically the largest seabirds in their environment. Of the two types found on Galveston Island, the American White Pelican is the larger species.

White Pelicans usually average around 16 pounds and can have a wingspan of up to 9 feet across. Most American White Pelicans are migratory and only visit the warm Gulf Coast region during the winter. However, there is a small population living and breeding along the coast of Texas near Padre Island.

Brown Pelicans, on the other hand, live on or near Galveston Island year-round. Brown Pelicans are actually the smallest of the Pelican family. But they're still very, very large birds, with a wingspan of 6 to 7 feet. They're much lighter than white pelicans, weighing in at only around 8 pounds. They may look heavy, but a pelican's skeleton and feathers are specially adapted to their combined aerial and aquatic lifestyle, making them light in the sky and buoyant in the water.

You might notice them using their extra long bills to preen. Preening is using their beak to pull oils from their skin and coats their feathers to keep the pelicans waterproof. A common sight around the bay and beachside waterfront is seeing brown pelicans plunging into the water to catch fish.

This special hunting technique is called plunge diving, and brown pelicans are the only pelican species in the world to use this method of fishing. Now, pelicans are a common sight on Galveston Island, but unless you're close to a nesting colony, you probably won't hear them at all. The newly hatched chicks can be noisy, but adults rarely make calls outside the colony.

During the day, brown pelicans can be spotted flying and feeding all along the shoreline. Just like a fishing net, pelicans use that famous pouch on their throat to scoop up fish, crabs, amphibians, and sometimes even the live chicks of other birds. This unique and sometimes disturbing feeding habit is a sight to behold, especially when you can see a fish silhouetted in the pelican's throat.

One common misconception about pelicans is that these birds carry live fish and water in their pouch to feed their young. But they actually force the water out between their upper and lower bill and then swallow the fish whole. And in that classic bird style that we all know and love, pelicans feed their young by regurgitating directly into a chick's mouth.

Throughout the past century, the sight of pelicans on the island wasn't so common. In the 1950s and 60s, the use of the pesticide DDT Caused brown pelican populations to plummet in the Gulf region. This highly toxic chemical would first be sprayed on crops inland before moving through the soil and water system, eventually reaching the Gulf. That chemical worked its way into the food supply of brown pelicans and impacted their reproductive process. One of the side effects of DDT exposure was the weakening of the shell of the pelican's eggs. Which, of course, affected the health and growth of pelican chicks. In 1970, the brown pelican was listed as an endangered species, which afforded it extra protection.

Just a few years later, DDT was banned across the country, and populations slowly began to recover. By the mid-20th century, environmental awareness in Texas and across the country led to a push for stronger protections for coastal wildlife. Local efforts, including habitat restoration and pollution control, helped ensure Galveston Bay remained a viable home for pelicans.

The creation of wildlife refuges and the work of conservation groups like the Houston Audubon Society played a crucial role in the brown pelican's comeback. Coastal restoration and conservation programs have also worked to provide habitat for nesting and migrating pelicans. These very social birds nest in large colonies on small islands.

However, coastal erosion and hurricanes pose challenges for those nesting sites. Barrier islands like those in Galveston Bay serve as crucial breeding grounds, safe from large predators and human disturbances. One specific island in Galveston Bay draws thousands of nesting birds every single year. And no, I'm not talking about Pelican Island.

Just north of Galveston Island and west of the causeway, North Deer Island hosts a large colony of breeding brown pelicans and other birds. As a protected wildlife sanctuary, the 144-acre island provides an important coastal marsh habitat for roughly 1,000 pairs of pelicans every year. These efforts have significantly contributed to the recovery of the brown pelican population.

Looking ahead, conservationists continue working to protect Galveston's coastal habitats. Efforts like artificial nesting platforms and expanded marine sanctuaries could help sustain pelican populations for decades to come. These days, we can sometimes see pods of over 50 pelicans flying silently in formation along the coast of Galveston.

Thanks to the efforts of local and national Audubon societies, as well as private and public conservation efforts, the brown pelican was removed from the endangered species list in 2009, with pelicans now thriving, who knows what the future holds. Maybe one day, they'll get their own festival. Imagine a pelican parade soaring down the seawall.

More realistically, ongoing habitat protection and restoration efforts will ensure that future generations can keep watching these incredible birds glide over the Gulf. So next time you're strolling along the seawall or birdwatching in the bay, keep an eye out for some of our most important and distinguished residents because you certainly won't hear them coming.