Comment from Margaret Poepp
November 12th, 2009 at 5:38 pm

This is thrilling news. When my parents lived on the Gulf at Long Boat Key, Florida, we loved to watch these incredibly beautiful birds. I am very relieved to know they are recovering. The world would not be so beautiful without them.

Comment from laflaur
November 12th, 2009 at 5:42 pm

LeveesNotWar.org takes the pelican’s new out-of-danger status as an auspicious sign of Louisiana’s possible environmental restoration. The pelican was chosen as the state bird of Louisiana mainly because it is known for its especially nurturing attitude toward its young. We like to think of the pelican as symbolizing the state of Louisiana at its best, at its most generous, sharing with the less fortunate, as with the caregiving of the Ursuline nuns and Charity Hospital that has (until recently) operated in the city of New Orleans since the 1730s. As a symbol of the social contract and a protected environment, we welcome the pelican and wish it many generations of sturdy eggs, healthy, well-fed young, and a replenished Louisiana coastline in which to thrive.

We are also happy that Senator Mary Landrieu used the occasion, while Interior assistant secretary Tom Strickland and U.S. Fish and Wildlife Services director Sam Hamilton were in Louisiana, to, as the Times-Picayune reported, “convene a closed meeting between the Interior officials and about 75 coastal restoration ‘stakeholders’ representing state agencies, universities, local governments and environmental groups in an effort to press the Obama administration on its commitment to speeding the state’s coastal restoration process.”

Comment from JP
November 12th, 2009 at 5:43 pm

Animals have been sharing this planet with us for a very, very long time.
If our existence begins to adversely impact their existence, then we must respond to insure that a species survives.

Every species that is lost forever to extinction is a tragedy & a incredibly sad statement on homo sapiens.

Comment from Alfonso Dizenzo
November 12th, 2009 at 5:50 pm

This is very thrilling news and I'm sure with all of our continued effort there will be more.

Comment from harriet irby
November 12th, 2009 at 5:54 pm

My brother and I saw a flock of brown pelicans circling a shallow lagoon in the Marin headlands.
I thought then the birds were acting a little"odd". They seemed to be relentlessly and aimlessly circling. Maybe that is their normal way. I am not a bird person. But these pelicans were certainly out of the ordinary birds. Prehistoric, actually.

Comment from Oliver
November 12th, 2009 at 5:54 pm

This is great news. I believe these pelicans were another victim of DDT, so all the people that worked so hard to get rid of DDT should be proud of their work. The ban on that pesticide is a good example of people coming together when they need to. Its a shame things need to become so dire before action is taken. Let's keep up the fight.

Comment from Joana de Sousa
November 12th, 2009 at 6:00 pm

From Portugal, Europe

A BIG WOW!

Very goog news!

Thank you all that made it happen,

*kiss*

Comment from Tina Pelikan
November 12th, 2009 at 6:00 pm

I just spent a few days in New Smyrna Beach, FL where there were sqadrons of brown pelicans flying by every few minutes. They are magnificent brids – thank you for the work to save them from extinction.

Comment from tom palmer
November 12th, 2009 at 6:02 pm

One issue is preserving habitat. In Florida, Brown Pelicans are starting to feed and nest inland. No one's sure why.

Comment from David Clarke
November 12th, 2009 at 6:04 pm

Very Good News, thanks for sharing it!

Nice job EDF!

Comment from max magbee
November 12th, 2009 at 6:06 pm

Growing up, I always used to wonder why it was that I would see a few Brown Pelicans while visiting Florida, but never see any back home in Louisiana (where I have lived all my life), whose state bird is the Brown Pelican.
Over the past fifteen years however, I have been elated to see more and more of these beautiful birds flying over our lakes, rives, swamps, etc.
The healthy resurgence of these birds is indeed a great victory for environmental conservation.

Comment from Robin Revak
November 12th, 2009 at 6:14 pm

This is absolutely AWESOME – these are wonderful birds and its a good thing we have people out there that care enough about other things than themselves to protect animals, wish there were more of us!
VERY GOOD JOB!

Comment from Joe S.
November 12th, 2009 at 6:20 pm

One success at a time, many successes in our time! Congratulations, all!

Comment from SteveS55
November 12th, 2009 at 6:20 pm

I live in Long Beach, California and we have had brown pelicans along our coast as long as I can remember. They are a graceful and peaceful bird and I never tire of watching them diving head first into the water. May they live long lives.

Comment from Helena Freitas
November 12th, 2009 at 6:27 pm

Wonderful news! I love these birds.
Congratulations from Portugal!

Comment from margo
November 12th, 2009 at 6:27 pm

I am so happy about this. Pelicans are wonderful creatures. The fish don't think so though. lol. Anyway, we have pelicans on the bayou here in the panhandle of Florida. I can't imagine it without them. They are numerous.

Yes, we have shared the planet with animals a long time. But the animals were here first. We must remember that.

Comment from Aliaa Abdel-Gawad
November 12th, 2009 at 6:29 pm

This is extremely good news and congrats to EDF for your part in this amazing journey! Although it was initially sad and worrisome, all of us can now raise a toast for the successful recovery for the Brown Pelican.

In closing, my condolences for your loss — Tom Graff — the Director of EDF's CA office. RIP…

Comment from Roger Pariseau
November 12th, 2009 at 6:35 pm

Reportedly only some 600,000 Brown Pelicans now live between Seattle and the Caribbean. That seems a rather small number. Is it really time to remove these awesome birds from protected status?

Comment from Elizabeth Bettenhausen
November 12th, 2009 at 6:36 pm

Brown pelicans ride the surf so wisely, and I smile in gratitude. One day they allowed a sea gull to head the V of their flight, and I smiled at their gratitude. May we humans begin wisely to learn our rightful place in a cooperative world.

Comment from LaVerne Nash
November 12th, 2009 at 7:10 pm

When I first moved to the Texas Gulf Coast in the early Sixties, there wasn't a pelican to be seen. I thought it was normal to only see gulls, egrets and herrons – not pelicans. Then around the 1990's I saw my first pelican swooping into the water in Galveston Bay and I thought it was an anomoly. Now I see pelicans roosting and flying over Galveston Bay and Clear Lake. What a joy. The City of Seabrook even displays wooden pelicans in front of City Hall and businesses as a reminder of their return. I believe we must still protect these beautiful, graceful birds.

Comment from Scott in Seattle
November 12th, 2009 at 7:10 pm

I'm delighted to hear the positive news on the brown pelican; however, we should be cautious in our optimism. I recall a few years ago reading similar news about the wolves of the central and western US, and now there are very determined and potentially catastrophic organized legal and illegal efforts in several states to re-eradicate them and isolate unsustainable populations. Hopefully the brown pelican will have a much kinder welcome in its natural habitats and be left to re-establish natural healthy and sustainable populations.

Comment from Elaine
November 12th, 2009 at 7:23 pm

The increased population of brown pelicans is proof that its possible to save species at risk if there is the will to do so.

Comment from Jason Williams
November 12th, 2009 at 7:26 pm

Recovery is good…..Too bad there is not more of this going on in the animal kingdom.

Comment from eusebioandres
November 12th, 2009 at 7:31 pm

I loved when first arrived in florida from Spain 35 years ago washing the pelicans diving into the water and come out with the fish.
Never forgot that experience.
I am very happy to hear the news.
This motivate us to keep pushing for more good news.

Comment from Melinda Bedrossian
November 12th, 2009 at 7:32 pm

We are all in this journey together. Thank you for taking the time to care about the things many of us take for granted

Comment from havener
November 12th, 2009 at 7:40 pm

We don't live by the sea but we're lucky enough to be able to take a seaside vacation every few years. Pelicans have always been a real favorite for us. So happy to know there's hope for these lovely creatures. They are truly breathtaking.

Comment from Jolene Wolff
November 12th, 2009 at 7:41 pm

I grew up in So Calif on the beaches and remember brown pelicans fondly. I also recall the time when they were diasppearing and were finally put on endangered list.
In this time of bad news and of losing species daily, it is highly gratifying to have lived long enough to see a few returns. Let us all keep up the good work!

Comment from clarkt
November 12th, 2009 at 7:59 pm

I've lived in the desert or inland most of my life except for nearly four years on the Gulf of Mexico in Florida and moved here to Los Osos, California several years ago. We are a short distance from the estuary and back part of Morro Bay and it is so thrilling to see a huge flock of Pelicans attacking a school of fish that come in with the tide. I assume they are Brown Pelicans, but have never seen them close up. Hope to rectify that. It is so wonderful they have come back and gives all of us hope because so many things are going wrong with this country and world.

Comment from tanya
November 12th, 2009 at 8:07 pm

The brown pelican is one of my favorite birds. They are grate to watch in flight or when they are on land.

A wonderful bird is the pelican, His bill can hold more than his belican, He can take in his beak, Food enough for a week, But I’m damned if I see how the helican (Dixon Merritt)

Comment from jean
November 12th, 2009 at 8:18 pm

i do not celebrate this species being taken off protection. i think the count as being "restored" is suspicious. we have govt agencies that are working more for wildlife murder than for wildlife protection these days. their work needs to be followed, questioned and inspected. Money talks and the animals suffer.

Comment from catherine jennifer/jentilpet
November 12th, 2009 at 8:22 pm

It's about time! Bush took down the Magnificent Wolf's from the Endangered Species Act/Protections,the last minute..before he "flew the Coop!"Thank God,this important bird,this beloved creature,will not have the same fate!What do these people do,just sit around,thinking about the next Species that will be "striped" off their dignity!The Louisianna Bird?Let's not take another thing from that state,it has gone through enough,just sayin'…When the wolf is returned,I'll again have my sense of justice restored,also..I mean,Palin's "Aeriel Flying Henchmen",from snares to shotgun,to gunfire,filling the Arctic air,Alaska's deadly X-Gov we call[Defenders of Wildlife"]"CruellaDeVille!"..
Again,I'm so happy,these precious birds will have the sky that belongs to them! This same mentality should be enacted for all wildlife,& all birds!God Bless them!God Bless the people who appreciated the meaning of "Endangered"instead of the inferiority,that wolves kill all cattle..Why this was even an issue,still bothers me! I heard once,that the "BaldEagle!" was under the microscope for the Endangered List too..a while ago that is.."That" will never happen,then again since Salazar&Otter,in Idaho remain red-necks,one never knows what they'll do next,I mean to give away 1000 permits to shoot wolves,really,now!"from Yellowstone" to the most beloved parks,"tagged" wolves were just shot down,leaving their cubs alone,to die?What is Obama thinking?

Comment from Shreya
November 12th, 2009 at 8:35 pm

Great news!
We need to do more.

Comment from Jean Marie Naples
November 12th, 2009 at 8:44 pm

As someone who lived in Louisiana for 9 years, I am very gratified to hear that, thanks to the choices we as country have made, the Brown Pelican has made it back from possible extinction.As a country, we need to continue down this path for all of natures endangered animals.

Comment from Jane Waters
November 12th, 2009 at 10:09 pm

I spent four years living on the coast of Washington. No flock of birds impressed me more than the pelicans when they'd arrive during migrations. Their flights were stunning visually; each one of them moving in unison with the next, so the entire flight looked like it was one huge bird. They are truly a sight to behold. I'm pleased to know that they are coming back in larger numbers again. I've enjoyed my time behind the lens photographing not only the browns, but all the other varieties of pelicans. One of my three favorite birds of the world (the others being flamingo and puffin). At long last, some good news for a change.

Comment from Susan
November 12th, 2009 at 11:02 pm

I rejoice in this news! But I agree with others that we must not rest on our laurels. The Brown Pelican may no longer be officially endangered, but they are still in danger, as are so many other species of wildlife on our shared planet. We must continue our vigilance. My heartfelt thanks and continued support to the Environmental Defense Fund for the very hard work they do.

Comment from Kim
November 12th, 2009 at 11:03 pm

If I could be any bird, I would want to soar over the mighty ocean as a pelican.

Comment from Barbara von Haunalter
November 12th, 2009 at 11:15 pm

The Brown Pelican to me is associated with my father, who loved the birds. He lived in South Florida for a good part of his life. I enjoyed seeing the pelicans there with him, and am grateful to know that now they are back from extinction. Out here in Northern California, they are a delight to behold, soaring in their triangular formations over the Pacific Ocean, much as they do over the Atlantic. Thanks to all the forces that enabled them to survive.

Barbara von Haunalter

Comment from Marilyn McNabb
November 12th, 2009 at 11:31 pm

We should take a moment to praise a heroine of our time, Rachael Carson, for her magnificent book, Silent Spring. The long arc of the effects of that work take us to the present moment and our celebration of brown pelicans. Hurrah for brown pelicians! Hurrah for Rachael Carson!

Comment from Karthik
November 12th, 2009 at 11:33 pm

Really happy and satisfactory to hear the news.
Would like to know if any wing of EDF functions in India too.

Comment from david smith
November 12th, 2009 at 11:58 pm

this is great hats of to those involved for the incredably hard work

Comment from johncheney88
November 13th, 2009 at 1:36 am

Only a brief comment on our victory with the brown pelican…
YES!!!
Once in a while is just… well it just feels good to see some concrete proof that our efforts lead somewhere good!

Comment from Ahmed Karadakhy
November 13th, 2009 at 5:26 am

Congratulations.
Keep on pacing the long track. We will triumph eventually and Mother Nature will soon retain her bright smile. You are devoted offspring of a generous and compassionate mother.
God bless all.

Comment from Lucille Bates
November 13th, 2009 at 7:17 am

We've been noticing the increase of the brown pelican here at Tampa Bay while bringing up the sun each morning.
Thanks!

Comment from Mark Stewart
November 13th, 2009 at 9:25 am

The story of the osprey, the brown pelican and DDT is an environmental epic. I use the story of the Brookhaven Town Natural Resources Committee and DDT each year in an intro college course as an example of keen observations followed by informed actions yielding big results. Thanks, Art. Thanks, Dennis.

Comment from Laura Truelove
November 13th, 2009 at 10:32 am

This is wonderful news!!! The Pelican is beautiful bird, one of my favorites.
THank you so much

Comment from mathewmcd1
November 13th, 2009 at 10:50 am

This is a great big step for our world. I live in the Virgin Islands and I am very lucky to be able to see these
magnificent birds on a daily basis.Watching them glide and dive into the turquoise water is a sight to behold.
We are actively fighting developers every day who are trying to develop our cays that surround our little island of St. Thomas.There is a petition on going to stop developers of Thatch Cay just off St. Thomas.If any one is interested in signing the petition, go to Care 2 petition site and type thatch cay into the search bar on the right of the page. We are trying to get at least 1000 signatures.

Comment from Caitlin
November 13th, 2009 at 12:29 pm

This is truly amazing. Thank you and congratulations to everyone who made this possible through their efforts. Very inspiring! Let's do this for all the critters that need our help =)

Comment from Sam Parry
November 13th, 2009 at 12:30 pm

Hey thanks everyone for the great comments. It's very nice to share this great victory with so many great people.

There have been a couple of comments here and on our Facebook page (http://www.facebook.com/pages/Environmental-Defense-Fund/8492293163) expressing some concern that while the brown pelicans have rebounded, we need to make sure we don't let them fall back into endangered status.

This is always an important consideration whenever a species is removed from the Endangered Species List. Be assured that we have staff working in our Land, Water and Wildlife program who will continue to monitor this situation. But, since the main threat to the brown pelicans was exposure to DDT, and with the ban on DDT in place, there is every reason to feel hopeful that this species, along with ospreys, bald eagles and peregrine falcons, has a very bright future.

Comment from Theresa Kolpakova
November 13th, 2009 at 1:41 pm

How wonderful! I have been following their progress since my days as a wildlife rehabilitator in San Diego, California, and am so excited to hear the news! Such majestic birds…I have spent many afternoons watching them glide over the shoreline at Torrey Pines State Reserve in La Jolla/Del Mar.

This is thrilling!

Comment from Christine S.
November 13th, 2009 at 2:10 pm

I used to live in Santa Monica, CA in the early 70's when the brown pelican first started returning to the southern California coasts. I remember sitting mezmorized by the diving and flight patterns of these prehistoric looking birds. Soon afterwards I began collecting various artworks depicting these beautiful creatures. To date I have approximately 50 pieces of "pelican" art. Today, we celebrate wonderful news!!!

Comment from greybyrd
November 13th, 2009 at 4:44 pm

I applaud the efforts taken to insure the habitat and future of the brown pelican. They are magnificent birds I am no stranger to here in Florida. With well over half a million now in the South, this should give them a stronghold and the ability to continue to propagate and increase in numbers. I only hope that the Whooping cranes, with only about 350 birds in the wild total, can recover and do even a fraction as well. Their numbers are down and the efforts to get them to propagate in the new Eastern Introduced Flock between Wisconsin and Florida have proved almost a failure, with one bird fledged and still alive this past 9 years. Their story is quite different from the brown pelicans, but hopefully will soon have an equally fruitful and happy ending.

Mark Chenoweth
Whoopers Happening
http://whoopershappening.com

Comment from me
November 13th, 2009 at 7:23 pm

I am very excited about the brown pelican's recovery! It is relieving to know that these species are strong enough to recover from being endangered. I am very happy to hear this!

Comment from devon Vose
November 14th, 2009 at 12:14 am

The incredible brown pelican is now skimming the Washington State coast at Westport. So wonderful to see I've been using them in my art work. Devon

Comment from Alicia Bottoms
November 14th, 2009 at 8:24 am

It's so great to see so many pelicans now at the beach flying singly and in groups, skimming the water, and diving. I remember when their numbers were dwindling and sightings were rare. I feel a great deal of happiness about this resurgence and am thankful for all the efforts to bring this about.

Comment from Paula McKinney
November 14th, 2009 at 5:36 pm

In 2008, my family moved to North Padre Island, so we have the great fortune to see the Brown Pelicans everyday. Theirs is such a profound story of environmental success, and it gives me hope that we can do the same for other threatened and endangered species. Thanks to everyone who worked for this very positive outcome.

Comment from Gary Vesperman
November 14th, 2009 at 11:30 pm

It would be helpful to the cause of species preservation for the U.S. Government to end its decades-long viciously thorough suppression of new energy inventions. For instance the U.S. Patent Office, in order to protect the fossil fuel and power companies, has unfairly classified secret 5000 energy patents. For details see http://www.energysuppression.com.

Comment from Kaven
November 16th, 2009 at 9:52 am

What a nice news! No matter how far and how remote the distance between us but my happiness from heart remains never changed for this exciting and blissful news for the return of this bird in this friendly nature!

Comment from Richard Pasichnyk
November 16th, 2009 at 11:16 pm

That's GREAT!! This is what the Endangered Species Act should be accomplishing. Let make sure that no one in the government ever tries to weaken it. Of course, what would be better is that no species become endangered.

Comment from ada
November 17th, 2009 at 1:45 am

A huge applause and a thousand thank you's to all those who helped make this happen,i hope that like you someday i can get to help as much as you guys do,CONGRATS I HOPE WE CAN DO THIS FOR MANY MORE MORE SPECIES, FOR ALL OF THEM =D

Comment from teachercjcraig
November 17th, 2009 at 8:01 am

This is WONDERFUL news for the birds in the United States, especially the Brown Pelican.
I have heard that a major U.S. corporation is still manufacturing DDT and selling it outside of the U.S., specifically to West Africa. I have also heard that this is picked up in the loess and transported over the Atlantic Ocean where it settles out over the Caribbean reefs and is contributing to the bleaching problem…is there anyone reading this blog who can either verify this or negate it (I am hoping for the later).
Thank you!

Comment from starr
November 17th, 2009 at 12:32 pm

I cannot tell you how thrilled we were to read in our newspaper the Brown Pelican has been saved! They are such beautiful, magnificent birds and are one of our very favorite birds. The first time we saw them nesting in a small tree, we just couldn't believe it. It made us laugh and love them even more!

The hard work is, unfortunately, never done. We must continue to save all our precious wildlife!

Thank you for helping make all this happen! What a great victory for the Brown Pelican and us!

Comment from Maria Kellner
November 17th, 2009 at 11:57 pm

Gentlemen, I am very happy about this wonderful success story. Persistance pays off! Thank you for all you have done and have courage in going ahead with saving so many other animals and plants!I am glad to be associated with you.

Comment from Creative Greenius
November 18th, 2009 at 3:26 pm

I LOVE the Brown Pelican and I'm lucky enough to get to see them every day here on our South Bay Los Angeles beaches. I live on the Palos Verdes Peninsula, and right off our shore is one of the largest DDT dumps in history. The ban on DDT has worked and we need to use that lesson to now ban the use of fossil fuels which will not only make a mockery of all the work we've done to protect other species, but is already making a mockery out of the legacy we now leave our children.

I want our kids and their kids to be able to thrill and marvel over the flight and feeding of the magnificent Brown Pelicans as our generation has been able to. But unless we treat global warming as the crisis it now is we will be the first generation that turns this planet over to the next in far worse shape then we received it.

No excuses. We need to rapidly transom to a clean, green economy and we need to do it right now.

Comment from Judith Rella
November 18th, 2009 at 6:48 pm

I was truly happy to hear of the Brown Pelican comeback of sorts. It is about time we start thinking seriously of how important each animal is to each other and ultimately us!!

Comment from Andreina Sweitzer
November 18th, 2009 at 10:18 pm

My support and deep admiration goes to all the participants that made possible the recovery of the Brown Pelican. This will not only promote the biodiversity in their habitats but also balance the ecology and food chain of all species! sometimes we have to look at the smaller ones to create a big impact, with that said, the Brown Pelican will ultimately restore the ecological niche of many other species!! Hooray!!!!