The Brown Pelican Post-Release Study Program

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The Program

     As part of our focus on conservation research, we began a post release study program in 2000. Under a master banding permit from the Bird Banding Laboratory (BBL), a division of the United States Geological Survey (USGS), we place a pair of leg bands on every rehabilitated pelican we release (pictured at right). In addition, we band wild pelicans that are randomly selected.
     The goal of this program is to provide a more accurate understanding of current pelican ecology as well as a better understanding of the effectiveness of wildlife rehabilitation. The data we generate from this program may someday help to improve conservation efforts for brown pelicans throughout the southeastern United States.  

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

To Report A Band

     Band sightings must be reported through the bird banding laboratory. To report a sighting, please use the following link.

          Reporting Encounter of Marked Bird

     This link will direct you to the reporting page of the BBL web site. Select Pelican from the drop down menu, then click 'next page'. You can still submit a sighting if you only have the alpha-numeric code from the black sight band pictured above.

 

Current Status

     To date, we have banded about 2,100 pelicans.

     We have plans to submit the long term findings of our research for publication. So far, our banding program has revealed so interested anecdotal evidence.

  • Some brown pelicans migrate from Florida's Atlantic coast to Florida's Gulf coast- and back.
  • Female pelicans are injured more frequently than males in the winter