BC Conservation Data Centre: Conservation Status Report
Pelecanus erythrorhynchos
American White Pelican
| Scientific Name: | Pelecanus erythrorhynchos |
|---|---|
| English Name: | American White Pelican |
| Provincial Status Summary | |
| Status: | S1B |
| Date Status Assigned: | June 01, 1996 |
| Date Last Reviewed: | March 25, 2022 |
| Reasons: | Only two breeding islands in the province, that share a single population of birds. S1B and a nonbreeding rank needs to be estimated. |
| Range | |
| Range Extent: | F = 20,000-200,000 square km |
| Range Extent Comments: | 172 km2 if just the two breeding islands are used to calculate range extent. Up until about 2014, breeding was restricted to Stum Lake, 70 km northwest of Williams Lake (VanSpall et al. 2005). Starting in the mid 2000s birds started to nest on Puntzi Lake, 70 km west of Alexis Creek as well. Foraging occurs up to 165 km from the breeding colonies over an area of 30,000 km2 (Harper and VanSpall 2004). Concentrations of non-breeding birds are increasing and oversummering at a variety of locations throughout the southern and central interior north to approximately Prince George and Vanderhoof. Also occurs as a nonbreeder on occasion in the Peace Lowlands from populations in Alberta. |
| Area of Occupancy (km2): | B = 2 |
| Area of Occupancy Estimate (km2): | 8 square km (2 grid cells) |
| Area of Occupancy Comments: | Breeding is restricted to two small areas, an island at Stum Lake (VanSpall et al. 2005) and an island at Puntzi Lake. Foraging of breeding birds only occurs at a limited number of lakes (approximately 40) within their overall range on the Fraser Plateau (Harper et al. 2004). |
| Occurrences & Population | |
| Number of Occurrences: | A = 1 - 5 |
| Comments: | The only breeding colonies in British Columbia are located at Stum Lake (VanSpall et al. 2005) and Puntzi Lake (Fraser and Ramsay 2015). There are EOs mapped for the feeding areas as well, however the number and coding is based on the breeding colonies. |
| Number of Occurrences with Good Viability / Ecological Integrity: | B = 1 - 3 |
| Comments: | The only breeding colonies in British Columbia are located on islands at Stum Lake (VanSpall et al. 2005) and Puntzi Lake (Fraser and Ramsay 2015). |
| Number of Occurrences Appropriately Protected & Managed: | B = 1 - 3 |
| Comments: | The breeding colony at Stum Lake is a Class A provincial park. Many foraging habitats are not protected and pressures on pelican foraging and roosting sites have been increasing in recent years. There are, however a total of 19 Wildlife Habitat Areas under the Forest and Range Protection Act that have been established on pelican foraging habitats at all three Kluskus Lakes, Pelican Lake North, as well as Abuntlet, Pantage, Chilcotin, Puntzi, Tzenzaicut, Rosita, Tautri, Alex Graham, Beaver, Owen, Meldrum, Natsy, Knox, Dester, and Martin Lakes. The total area protected is 20,868 ha and the average size of these WHAs in 1098 ha. |
| Population Size: | C = 250 - 1,000 individuals |
| Comments: | There were an average of 330 nest sites at Stum Lake from 1993 to 2007 (J. Steciw, pers. comm., unpubl. data). VanSpall et al. (2005) estimated the size of the BC population based on the number of nests counted at Stum Lake in 2002 at 580 breeding adults. The new colony at Puntzi Lake is growing quickly, largely at the expense of the Stum Lake colony. First confirmed breeding at Puntzi Lake was in the summer of 2013 (Fraser and Ramsay 2015), but only after the Stum Lake colony failed (Steciw pers.comm.). By the summer of 2018 the pelican count at Puntzi Lake was an estimated 296 nests and a total of 262 chicks (Lamb-Yorski 2018). Number of nest/young of the year at Stum Lake 2019: 39/5, 2020: 58/32, 2021: 98/143 and at Puntzi Lake 2019: 297/282, 2020:182/263, 2021: 318/410 (Steciw pers. comm 2022). Non-breeding birds in the Creston Valley Wildlife Management Area in the Kootenays have increased from a few birds in the 1980s to a maximum count of 515 in 2014 (M.A. Beaucher https://ebird.org/canada/checklist/S20792663). Non-breeding pelicans in the Omenica Region (Nulki, Tachick, Sinkut and Carrier Lakes) have increased from a few birds in the early 1990s to maximum counts of 77 in 2000 (Harper and VanSpall 2001), 345 in 2005 and 167 in 2006 (Wilson 2006). The total population of American White Pelicans (breeding and non-breeding) is approximately 1100 to 1800 adult individuals. |
| Threats (to population, occurrences, or area affected) | |
| Degree of Threat: | AC = Very high - medium |
| Comments: | Reproductive success in the Stum Lake and Puntzi Lake nesting colonies in British Columbia is directly threatened by human disturbance associated with boating and aircraft, and even by ill-conceived research projects. The negative impact of disturbance at breeding colonies is severe and well known (Evans and Knopf 1993, Dunbar 1984). Rising water levels can result in flooding of nest sites, and falling water levels can reduce the effectiveness of the water barrier that is used as security from terrestrial predators. Potential impacts on pelican foraging habitat include changes in lake and stream water levels associated with irrigation use, changes in fish stocks associated with introduction of game fish, and lakeshore and streamside development for recreational properties, campsites, and roads. Probably the greatest direct threat to pelican foraging habitat is legal and illegal alterations of stream courses and damming of streams and lakes. Predators are known to destroy colonies in years of low water levels (Dunbar 1979). Pelicans on foraging lakes swam or flew away when approached by humans, but the response distance varied by the type of disturbance. Fixed-wing aircraft elicited avoidance movements at further average distances (350-750 m) compared to motorboats and canoes (64-139 m)(Harper et al. 2004). |
| Trend (in population, range, area occupied, and/or condition of occurrences) | |
| Short-Term Trend: | HI = Increase of >10% |
| Comments: | The current populaton is considered stable, although population fluctuations are common. There have been 4 total colony failures since 1960 (VanSpall et al. 2005). In recent years, numbers have been somewhat higher than the average in late 1990s (J. Steciw, pers. comm.). The numbers of non-breeding birds in the Omineca Region (Tachick, Nulki, Sinkut and Carrier Lakes) and in the Creston Valley Wildlife Management area have increased substantially since the 1980s and 1990s. |
| Long-Term Trend: | H = Increase of 10-25% |
| Comments: | VanSpall et al. (2005) estimated the size of the BC population based on the number of nests counted at Stum Lake in 2002. This gave an estimate of approximately 580 breeding adults. This estimate was about twice the estimated numbers in 1988 (Campbell et al. 1990), suggesting a long-term increase in the size of the breeding population. Increasing numbers, including non breeding individuals, over the last 20 years. Most recent estimate of breeding birds in BC is 832 breeding birds in 2021 (Steciw pers. comm 2022) |
| Other Factors | |
| Intrinsic Vulnerability: | B=Moderately vulnerable |
| Environmental Specificity: | B=Narrow. Specialist or community with key requirements common. |
| Comments: | The requirement for isolated islands in predator-free lakes, with minimal human disturbance greatly limits potential breeding habitats. |
| Other Rank Considerations: | |
| Information Gaps | |
| Research Needs: | More information is needed on the specific location of important stream and river reaches that are used at night by foraging pelicans. |
| Inventory Needs: | The breeding colonies should be monitored annually, but late in the breeding season or by remote cameras to avoid excessive disturbance. General activity at breeding colonies should continue to be superficially monitored from a distance. Colony survey should be combined with survey for Double-crested Cormorants. Primary foraging lakes should be monitored periodically to determine the effectiveness of WHAs and changes in patterns of habitat use. As has been done in the past, any future aerial surveys should continue to be done on the same day to avoid the high likelihood of double counting. In order to permit a time series analysis to determine annual variations and trends, the period and periodicity of surveys should be relatively consistent from year to year. Surveys at approximate 3 -week intervals beginning in mid April are recommended (Harper and VanSpall 2001). These early season surveys not only allow a better analysis of seasonal trends in macrohabitat use, but also may be the most useful for long-term population monitoring purposes because early season total counts are among the highest of the year. Continue to work across the US border with the Pacific Flyway Council on American White Pelicans (e.g. Pacific Flyway Council, 2018). |
| Stewardship | |
| Protection: | The species is listed in the Identified Wildlife Management Strategy under the Forest and Range Practices Act. The habitat objective under the Identified Wildlife Management Strategy (Forest Practices Code 1997, 1999) is to maintain the isolation of feeding lakes by minimizing human access during the breeding season. |
| Management: | Water levels at Stum Lake should be stabilized to maintain reproductive success of the breeding colony. Major foraging lakes should be protected from human disturbance by minimizing access during the breeding season. The Cariboo-Chilcotin Land-Use Plan (Province of BC 1995) generally addresses the issue of public access to pelican foraging habitats with the direction that, where required, roads will be planned to limit impacts on environmental values and road closure and deactivation and rehabilitation requirements for existing and future roads will be specified. This higher-level plan also directs resource managers to provide buffers of at least 200 meters and limit human disturbance around important pelican feeding lakes (Province of BC 1995). |
| Version | |
| Author: | modified by David F Fraser 2021 and 2022 from W. Harper 2008 |
| Date: | January 03, 2022 |
| References | |
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Blood, D.A. 1993. American White Pelican. B.C. Minist. Environ., Lands and Parks, Wildl. Branch. 6pp.
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Campbell, R.W., N.K. Dawe, I.McT. Cowan, J.M. Cooper, G. Kaiser, and M.C.E. McNall. 1990. The Birds of British Columbia, Vol. 1. Nonpasserines: Introduction, Loons through Waterfowl. Royal B.C. Mus. in association with Environ. Can., Can. Wildl. Serv. 514pp.
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Cannings, R.J. 1998. The Birds of British Columbia - a taxonomic catalogue. B.C. Minist. Environ., Lands and Parks, Wildl. Branch, Victoria, Wildl. Bull. B-86. 266pp.
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Dunbar, D.L. 1979. Preservation and management of white Pelicans in British Columbia. Rep. for Can. Wildl. Serv. Ottawa, ON. 43pp.
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Dunbar, D.L. 1984. The breeding ecology and management of white pelicans at Stum Lake, B.C. Fish and Wildl. Rep. No. R-6., B.C. Minist. Environ., Surrey. 85pp.
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Evans, R.M. and F.L. Knopf. 1993. American White Pelican (Pelecanus erythrorhynchos). In A. Poole and F. Gill, editors, The Birds of North America, No. 57. Academy of Natural Sciences, Philadelphia, and American Ornithologists' Union, Washington, DC.
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Forest Practices Code. 1997. American White Pelican in Species and Plant Community Accounts for Identified Wildlife: Vol. 1. B.C. Minist. For. and B.C. Environ. 184pp.
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Fraser, D.F. and L.R. Ramsay. 2015. American White Pelican in Davidson, P.J.A., R.J. Cannings, A.R. Couturier, D. Lepage, and C.M. Di Corrado (eds.). The Atlas of the Breeding Birds of British Columbia, 2008-2012. Bird Studies Canada. Delta, B.C.
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Gowans, B., and P. Ohanjanian. 2000. The American White Pelican (Pelecanus erythrorhynchos) in the Creston Valley Wildlife Management Area: their abundance, distribution and habitat use. HCTF report for BC Ministry of Environment, Lands and Parks, Nelson, BC.
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Harper, W.L. 1999. Foraging ecology of the American White Pelican and other freshwater pelicans: a review of the literature. Osiris Wildlife Consulting, Victoria, BC and the BC Ministry of Environment, Lands and Parks, Williams Lake, BC. 38pp.
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Harper, W.L., and J. Steciw. 2000. American White Pelican foraging lakes in British Columbia: surveys and preliminary management recommendations. Osiris Wildlife Consulting, Victoria, BC, and the BC Ministry of Environment, Lands and Parks, Williams Lake, BC. 97pp.
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Harper, W.L., and K. VanSpall. 2001. Foraging ecology of the American White Pelican in British Columbia: two year progress report - 2000. HCTF report by Osiris Wildlife Consulting, Victoria, BC and the BC Ministry of Environment, Lands and Parks, Williams Lake, BC. 97pp.
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Harper, W.L., K. VanSpall, and J. Steciw. 2004. Foraging ecology of the American White Pelican in British Columbia: final summary report (1999-2002). HCTF report by Osiris Wildlife Consulting, Victoria, BC and Ministry of Water, Land and Air Protection, Williams Lake, BC. 248pp.
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Johnsgard, P.A. 1993. Cormorants, darters, and pelicans of the world. Smithsonian Institute Press, Washington, D.C. xiv + 445pp.
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Ministry of Forests. 1998. General Wildlife Measures for Identified Wildlife, Vol. 1. Part of Identified Wildlife Management Strategies for the Forest Practices Code of British Columbia. B.C. Minist. For. and B.C. Minist. Environ., Lands and Parks, Victoria, BC. 93pp.
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Province of British Columbia. 1995. The Cariboo-Chilcotin Land-Use Plan: 90-day implementation process. Final Report. Land Use Coordination Office, BC Ministry of Forests and Ministry of Environment, Lands and Parks, Victoria, BC. 207pp.
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VanSpall, K., J. Steciw, and J.A. Young. 2005. Fifty years of American White Pelican breeding at Stum Lake, British Columbia. Waterbirds. 58(sp1):18-22
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Please visit the website Conservation Status Ranks for information on how the CDC determines conservation status ranks. For global conservation status reports and ranks, please visit the NatureServe website http://www.natureserve.org/.
Suggested Citation:
B.C. Conservation Data Centre. 2022. Conservation Status Report: Pelecanus erythrorhynchos. B.C. Minist. of Environment. Available: https://a100.gov.bc.ca/pub/eswp/ (accessed Jun 10, 2026).