The Status of the Brown Pelican in the USVI
Agardy T. 1981. The Status of the Brown Pelican in the USVI
Although the U.S. Virgtn Islands supports a relatively large and stable population of Brown Pelicans (Pelecanus occidentalis occidentalis L. 1766), few data have been recorded on the nominate race. Schreiber (1978) described a colony on the island of Vieques, 18 miles southwest of the Virgin Islands, and at present studies are being conducted on colonies of greater Puerto Rico. In the Virgin Islands incidental information has been collected as to the size and location of breeding colonies. Division of Fish and Wildlife records indicate that nesting sites were once more widespread than at present, and included rookeries on the main islands which are no longer in existence. Within the last decade, however, breeding colonies in the U.S. Virg~n Islands have been confined to five well-established sites: Dutchcap and Congo Cays, St. Thomas; Mary Point and Whistling Cay, St. John; and Buck Island, St. Croix. A sixth possible breeding colony was reported in May 1981 on the northwest shore of St. Croix (Hams Bluff), but has not been investigated. In the Virgin Islands pelicans breed throughout the year, although historical information indicates a peak in breeding occurs in the late fall, generally from October through December (DFVl field records). Aerial censuses were conducted throughout the year to confirm these preliminary findings and intensive studies on breeding biology were conducted at specific study sites throughout the peak period.