Status of the brown pelican (Pelecanus occidentalis occidentalis) in the Virgin Islands.

Yntem, John

Study of breeding and habitat of the brown pelican. Although the U.S. Virgin 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 there. 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 (Collazo, personal communication) . In the·Virgin Islands incidental information has been collected as to the size and location of breeding colonies. Within the last decade, however, breeding colonies in the U.S. Virgin 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 (DFW field records). Aerial censuses were conducted throughout the year to confirm these preliminary findings and extensive studies on breeding biology were conducted at specific study sites throughout the peak period.