On any given day you can find these prehistoric looking creatures gathering along the Florida coast in search of a fishy snack.

Photo: Emily Richardson

A PREHISTORIC BIRD
These creatures are called Brown Pelicans and can be found anywhere from right here on the beaches of Florida to the coasts of North and South America. Prehistoric features, including their huge bill and enormous wingspan, are indications that this creature has been around for about 40 million years.

The brown pelican is the smallest of the seven species of Pelican. They can reach up to a height of 4 feet and can weigh anywhere from 8 to 10 pounds with a wingspan of up to 7 feet! They can be identified by their white heads, brown body and 18-inch grayish bill. They have four-toed webbed feet making them excellent swimmers reaching top speeds in the water.

They also have incredible eyesight and can spot a school of fish from heights of 60 to 70 feet in the air. This animal eats at the all-you-can-eat fish buffet everyday, as they are required to eat an average of 4 pounds of fish a day! The Brown Pelican is a very social animal congregating in colonies made up of males and females of all ages; they will stay in these colonies for most of the year.

Photo: Emily Richardson

POPULATION DECLINE AND RECOVERY
Although the Brown Pelican has no natural enemies, it is still on the endangered species list in some parts of the Americas. In the 1970s the population reached a critical level when pesticides like DDT were introduced into its environment. Research conducted by University of Tampa found that the DDT caused the pelican eggshells to be overly-thin, therefore breeding was severely decreased. With these findings, DDT usage was banned in Florida and the rest of the country.

Along with the chemical pollution, hunting and illegal killing by fisherman have also decreased the population of these animals. A national refuge called Pelican Island was set up to protect the birds as well as the passage of the Migratory Bird Treaty Act. The number of Pelicans in Florida has bounced back and they were taken off the endangered list, but the bird is still struggling in other places like the gulf coast.

Resources for this article have been provided by Wikipedia and the US Fish and Wildlife Service.