American White Pelican – Oregon Conservation Strategy

Overview

Species Common Name American White Pelican
Species Scientific Name Pelecanus erythrorhynchos
State Listing Status Sensitive

Ecoregions

East Cascades

The East Cascade ecoregion extends from the Cascade Mountains’ summit east to the warmer, drier high desert and down the length of the state. This ecoregion varies dramatically from its cool, moist border with the West Cascades ecoregion to its dry eastern border, where it meets sagebrush desert landscapes.

Northern Basin and Range

The Northern Basin and Range ecoregion covers the very large southeastern portion of the state, from Burns south to the Nevada border and from the Christmas Valley east to Idaho. It is largely a high elevation desert-like area dominated by sagebrush communities and habitats.

Special needs

American White Pelicans need isolated and sparsely-vegetated terrestrial nesting habitat. They typically nest on islands in rivers, lakes, and freshwater marshes. They use shallow-water areas for cooperative feeding.

Limiting factors

This species' specialized nesting and foraging habitat is subject to droughts, floods, and manipulated water levels. American White Pelicans are sensitive to human disturbance and mammalian predators at nest sites. They breed in several scattered colonies in Oregon.

Data gaps

Describe breeding and post-breeding habitat needs in a landscape context. Use this information to direct water-level management across a matrix of sites.

Conservation actions

Minimize human disturbance in nesting areas during the breeding season and in shallow-water feeding areas. Where appropriate, manage water levels to provide suitable foraging and nesting habitat.

Key reference or plan

Pacific Flyway American White Pelican Monitoring Strategy