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Pelicans: Pelecanidae

Pelicans And People

Pelicans were tamed in ancient Egypt, and they were used as fishing helpers in India. Because they look so strange, there have been many myths, legends, and stories told about pelicans. They were also used as religious symbols for a mother's love.

NO MORE SCRAMBLED EGGS

Fifty years ago, pelicans were plentiful along the U.S. coasts. But by the early 1970s, the birds were completely wiped out in many places. Insect poisons used on farms and in forests had gotten into their food. One of the poisons killed the adult pelicans, and another one made their eggshells thin and weak. Instead of raising babies, the birds found their nests full of scrambled eggs. Without chicks being hatched, many pelican colonies disappeared. When people realized what was happening, they banned the use of the poisons. Now the pelicans are making such a good comeback that they are no longer listed as Endangered in Florida and Alabama, and they're doing much better in other states, too.

Additional topics

Animal Life ResourceBirdsPelicans: Pelecanidae - Physical Characteristics, Behavior And Reproduction, Pelicans And People, Brown Pelican (pelecanus Occidentalis): Species Accounts - GEOGRAPHIC RANGE, HABITAT, DIET, CONSERVATION STATUS