Mother Nature
The Journey of the Brown Pelican
One of my favorite things to do at the beach near our home is watch the brown pelicans as they soar overhead or skim along the surface of the water, rarely flapping a wing. They are majestic in their flight, powerful in their dives, and rarely a visit goes by without witnessing several groups of these magnificent birds as they go about their lives. Not that long ago, however, their very existence was tenuous and this is perhaps why I have such an affinity for them. Â
I first became acquainted with this magnificent bird many years ago while researching a paper that was to address conservation efforts for a species that was at the time on the USF&W Endangered Species List. The California Brown Pelican had found its way to the list as its population was drastically waning due to reproductive failures caused by environmental pollutants. Specifically, DDT, an insecticide widely used throughout the US, had infiltrated the food chain through water drainage finding its way to the fish in the ocean. Unknowing pelicans were eating contaminated fish, primarily mackerel, sardines and anchovies, which altered the calcium levels in their physiology, resulting in weakened shells in the eggs being laid. The weakened shells meant much fewer chicks were hatching each year and the result was decimating to the pelican population leading to its listing in 1970 as an endangered species. Fortunately, with the ban on the use of DDT as well as other intervention policies put into place, the California Brown Pelican made a slow but dramatic recovery and was delisted as a stable species in November 2009.Â
Writing this paper was also my introduction into witnessing how not only do our actions affect others in unintended ways, but how truly closely we are all interconnected. The original use of DDT was to improve crop yield with less devastation from insects and while it did this, the unintended consequence was its infiltration into the waterways and then into the food chain which resulted in the significant impact on the California Brown Pelican population. Had this connection not been made and corrective action taken, I wonder how it ultimately would have affected human kind. It was just a matter of time before it entered our food chain as well and probably already had to some degree. Perhaps the impact would have been small or even not noticeable, but I believe this was a lesson we would do well to heed. From the smallest of creatures to the largest of them, we are all connected in some fashion. Â
Our environments are no different as we witnessed this summer. The Saharan ‘dust cloud’ that traveled thousands of miles to impact the air quality in the Caribbean as well as Texas demonstrated that environmental issues not only impact their immediate geographic location but do travel outward with air and water flow, traveling much further than one would imagine at first glance. And it is this that troubles me with the varying environmental standards around the world. The US has much stricter guidelines through the EPA than many other countries and this is much needed. But, until other countries also address these issues and the US maintains its vigilance on its own standards, we may all suffer the consequences of inaction half the world away from us. Â
Ultimately, it comes down to people believing in the science of these issues. We seem to have developed an initial instinct to discount what the scientists and specialists are telling us and giving more weight to our own experiences or desires. Like a child that is warned the stove is hot and will burn if touched, we are demanding to experience the burn versus listening to someone with more knowledge and understanding. Â
The California Brown Pelican gives me hope, however, that we can address the challenges before us and that we will ultimately heed the scientists as they sound the alarm. Change is not easy but just as we are all connected and feel the consequences of choices that do harm, we are also all connected and will feel the impact of choices that make a difference for a cleaner and healthier environment. May we all take steps towards making those choices that honor our home and all the creatures with which we share this beautiful place called Earth. Â
Wishing you dear friend much courage and strength as you step forward in respect of our environment on your heartfelt journey.  ~♥~
https://www.allaboutbirds.org/guide/Brown_Pelican/lifehistory
http://www.aquariumofpacific.org/onlinelearningcenter/species/california_brown_pelican/
https://www.fws.gov/arcata/es/birds/brnpelican/b_pelican.html
