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Brown Pelican Endangered Status



BIRDERS:
I thought this might be of intrest to some of you
							VAN ATKINS




>Return-Path: 
<owner-chapter-communicator@LIST.AUDUBON.ORG>
>Date:         Wed, 27 Oct 1999 17:06:09 -0400
>Reply-To: "GROBERT, Kara" <KGROBERT@AUDUBON.ORG>
>Sender: NAS Chapter Communications officers
<CHAPTER-COMMUNICATOR@LIST.AUDUBON.ORG>
>From: "GROBERT, Kara" <KGROBERT@AUDUBON.ORG>
>Subject:      Brown Pelican Endangered Status
>To: CHAPTER-COMMUNICATOR@LIST.AUDUBON.ORG
>
>> BROWN PELICAN MAY BE UPGRADED FROM ENDANGERED TO THREATENED
>>
>> Coastal Bird Numbers Soar on Audubon Sanctuary Islands in Texas
>>
>> October 27, 1999 New York, NY - National Audubon Society President John
>> Flicker and Texas Audubon will celebrate the proposed removal of the Brown
>> Pelican from the endangered species lists of Texas and Louisiana at its
>> meeting of the Texas Audubon Board of Directors, Oct. 30th in San Antonio.
>> The Audubon Society, playing a key role in the bird's resurgence, supports
>> the recommendation made by the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service.
>>
>> "In the 1960's, the Brown Pelican was all but eliminated from the Gulf
>> Coast," said Catriona Glazebrook, Executive Director of the Texas State
>> Office of the National Audubon Society.  "Thanks to the banning of DDT and
>> protection of nesting habitat on Audubon's Coastal Sanctuaries, the birds
>> have breeded successfully," added Glazebrook.
>>
>> "98 percent of Brown Pelicans hatched on the Gulf Coast are born on
>> Audubon managed land," explained Glazebrook. " In 1970, the species was
>> listed as endangered, and only 35 breeding pairs were left on Audubon's
>> Pelican Island.  Today, there are over 1500 pairs on Pelican Island and
>> 1200 pairs on Sundown Island."
>>
>> To celebrate his role in the pelican's success, Texas Audubon will present
>> an award to its Warden Chester Smith.  For over 20 years, Smith built
>> nesting platforms, posted signs, and intercepted boats to prevent people
>> from disturbing the birds.  Smith is part of a legacy of Audubon wardens
>> who, in the 1960's, protected the island's pelicans, often sitting up all
>> night with ailing birds to ensure their survival.  Robert Galloway, David
>> Blankenship and Emily Payne will also be honored for their significant
>> contributions to Texas Audubon's Coastal Sanctuaries.
>>
>> Although Brown Pelicans are making a comeback, they remain endangered
>> along the Pacific Coast.  Ensuring the long-term success of the pelican
>> will require constant vigilance.  "Brown Pelicans are still vulnerable,"
>> Glazebrook stated. "Habitat loss, competing uses for coastal resources,
>> and Texas' growing human population are challenges we continue to face.
>> We will work together to restore species and their habitat.  Now, we can
>> do so now with the knowledge that conservation works."
>>
>> Founded in 1905, and with over 550,000 members in 518 chapters throughout
>> the Americas,  National Audubon Society conserves and restores natural
>> ecosystems, focusing on birds and other wildlife for the benefit of
>> humanity and the earth's biological diversity.
>>
>> MEDIA CONTACT:
>> Jacqueline Pierce             512/306-0225
>> jpierce@audubon.org
>> Kara Grobert                  212/979-3027
>> kgrobert@audubon.org
>>
>>
>>
>>
>>
>
>
Charleston, SC
vatkins@awod.com