“Trash in the Bin, Not the Pelican.”

Meet the graceful, plunging, soaring brown pelican. The seabird with the giant bill, this temporary resident seeks refuge along our coastline during their migration to breeding grounds farther south. Once on the brink of extinction from North America in the 1960s and 70s due to widespread pesticide use, the brown pelican is an inspiring story of resilience and recovery.

Fortunately for beachgoers, birders, and nature lovers alike, pelicans are often abundant during the spring, summer, and fall months in Pacifica. Look up and you might notice a flock of pelicans gliding through the sky in a V formation. Gaze out toward the horizon and watch as they skim the ocean waves. Perhaps even more entertaining is when they dive into the water headfirst and scoop up unsuspecting fish with their pouch-like bills. Either way, this seabird puts on quite a show.

We invite you to dive headfirst — just like the pelican — into some of our educational materials about this majestic seabird. On April 26, 2025, come put your knowledge to the test and celebrate the pelican with us at PelicanFest. This family-friendly event will be hosted at Linda Mar State Beach from 10:30am-1:30pm.

Did you know? Pelicans can dive headfirst into the ocean from as high as 60 feet? That’s as tall as a 6-story building!

Pelican Fun Facts

• Its scientific name is Pelecanus occidentalis.
• Pelicans (and other birds with throat pouches) are descendants of dinosaurs through convergent evolution.
• The oldest recorded brown pelican known to researchers was 43 years old as stated by Cornell Lab.
• In 1903, President Theodore Roosevelt set aside the first National Wildlife Refuge called Pelican Island in Florida to protect the species from hunters and provide a refuge for nesting birds.
• According to iNaturalist observations, pelicans can be seen in our area between May and November. During the winter, pelicans fly south to the Channel Islands to mate and nest.
• The best places to see pelicans nearby are rock structures offshore such as Mussel Rock, Shelter Point, and Arami Point (predator- and disturbance-free areas). You can also check out rock formations off Mori Point and along Devil’s Slide. Don’t forget to bring your binoculars!
• Pelicans can eat up to 4 pounds of fish a day. Some of the fish they eat are anchovies, herring minnows, menhaden, and mullet.
• The main threats to the brown pelican include entanglement in fishing gear, oil spills, and climate change, which can affect their food supply via abnormal weather events and algal blooms.

When you clean up harmful fishing line, hooks, and gear, know that you’re directly helping to keep pelicans and other marine life safe. Do your part by joining one of our beach, creek, or stream cleanups and eliminate plastic from entering the ocean.

Did you know? Pelicans fly in a V formation to reduce wind friction and conserve energy when migrating.

Anatomy of a Pelican

Pelicans are very large seabirds with an average size of about 3.75 feet to 4.5 feet. A pelican’s wingspan ranges from 6 feet 8 inches to 7 feet 6 inches. That’s taller than many basketball players! Quite light in weight, a pelican ranges from 4 to 11 pounds. Their giant pouch is suspended from the lower half of their long, straight bill and can hold up to three times more than the stomach. The pouch also serves as a cooling mechanism in hot weather and as a feeding trough for young chicks. Pelicans twist to the left (counterclockwise) when plunging into the water for food to protect their trachea and esophagus.

Breeding Behavior

When male pelicans enter breeding season, the backs of their necks turn a reddish-brown color that then fades to a dull orange as incubation progresses. Female pelicans build their nest in 7-10 days while the male gathers sticks that progressively get smaller in size. She pushes the sticks together with her bill and forms a cup-shaped nest by pressing with her feet and body. Brown pelicans usually lay two to three eggs. Both pelican parents participate in the incubation period, which lasts 28-30 days. It takes about 63 days (11-13 weeks) for chicks to develop their flight feathers (also known as “fledge”) and can sustain flight. Six to nine weeks after hatching, the juveniles leave the nest and gather into small groups known as pods. The average age of a fledgling’s first flight is 75 days.

Conservation History

Brown pelicans are a living symbol of a conservation success story. From low populations and being listed as endangered to recovering healthy, stable populations, it shows that when humans take action, tremendous victories for wildlife can occur.

Check back for more pelican facts and access to our pelican teacher toolkit. Coming soon!

Always keep a safe distance when viewing wildlife. If you see a pelican in distress, looking unwell, or in an unusual spot, call the WildCare Hotline at 415-456-7283 or the International Bird Rescue Northern California HelpLine at 707-456-4528 for assistance and advice.