Pelican Island National Wildlife Refuge
Encyclopedia
Pelican Island National Wildlife Refuge is a United States
National Wildlife Refuge
located just off the western coast of Orchid Island
in the Indian River Lagoon
east of Sebastian, Florida
. The refuge consists of a 3 acres (12,140.6 m²) island that includes an additional 2.5 acres (10,117.2 m²) of surrounding water and is located off the east coast of Florida
of the Indian River Lagoon
. Established by an executive order of President
Theodore Roosevelt
on March 14, 1903, Pelican Island was the first national wildlife refuge in the United States. It was created to protect egret
s and other birds from extinction by plume hunters.
Paul Kroegel, a German immigrant
, moved to Florida in 1881 and lived on the west bank of Indian River Lagoon
. He was fascinated with the pelicans on the island. Being able to see the island from his home, Paul would watch the pelicans and other water birds. He eventually took an interest in the island and its protection. However, there was not any state or federal law to help him so he took control of the situation himself. Kroegel sailed to the island to stand guard and protect the birds and the island.
A few naturalists visited Kroegel at Pelican Island. A curator at the American Museum of Natural History
in New York, Frank Chapman
, was one of the naturalists showing interest in the island as well. He discovered that Pelican Island was one of the last rookeries
of Brown pelican
s on the eastern coast of Florida.
The American Ornithologists' Union
and the Florida Audubon Society
led a campaign to pass legislation for protection of non-game birds in 1901. Kroegel was hired by the Florida Audubon Society to protect the water birds from the game hunters. Knowing that the protection of Pelican Island would require more legislation, Chapman and his fellow advocate, William Dutcher went to President Theodore Roosevelt
at his home in New York. The two appealed their case to Roosevelt’s conservative ethics. President Roosevelt signed an executive order that established Pelican Island as the first federal bird reservation. This was the first time that the federal government put land aside for the sake of wildlife. The area, however, was open for big game hunters.
“Later in 1963, Pelican Island was designated as a National Historic Landmark by the Secretary of the Interior because of its status as the first federal area set aside specifically to protect wildlife.”
In 1968, Florida agreed to expand to include nearly 5000 acres (20 km²) of mangrove islands and other submerged lands. And then in 1970, Pelican Island became the smallest wilderness area in the National Wilderness Preservation System
. Since, the refuge has gained over 500 acres (2 km²) through purchases, management agreements, and conservation easements to provide a buffer against encroaching development and also to be a link to the Archie Carr National Wildlife Refuge
. Pelican Island National Wildlife Refuge was added to the list of wetlands of international importance
under the Ramsar Convention
signed in 1971.
Today, Pelican Island is also threatened by shoreline development. Shoreline development has many negative impacts associated with it. Shoreline Development can reduce the water quality by increasing the runoff of sediments, fertilizers, and pesticides. These runoffs will cause decline in water quality and this can directly affect the food base that sustains the island’s nesting bird colonies. Waterfront development will also lead to more boat traffic. This extra boat traffic will also negatively affect the birds on the coast. Not only this, development of the shorelines of Pelican Island will permanently flaw the pristine character of this unique National Historic Landmark.
(glacial) and Holocene
(recent) origin. Submerged lands were exposed during the late Pleistocene period, allowing for the spread of flora and fauna from the peninsula. Wetland
s, salt marsh
es, mangrove
s, and other swampy formations make up the uplands and submerged lands.
, lead, nitrogen dioxide
, ozone
, particulate matter, and sulfur dioxide
. The primary producers of these pollutants are vehicle emissions, power plants, and industrial activities. The Indian River Lagoon area is said to have good air quality. Sometimes occasional temperate increases can temporarily degrade the air quality below the accepted levels.
south of Daytona Beach
to Jupiter Inlet near West Palm Beach
, a distance of about 155 miles (249.4 km), and contains a number of small rivers, creeks, and canals. The Intracoastal Waterway is the deepest part of the Lagoon. St. Sebastian River and Turkey Creek provide freshwater to the Lagoon. Water quality is also a concern in the refuge: cadmium
, lead
, mercury
, nutrients, selenium
, thallium
, and dissolved oxygen. The water circulation is affected by the Intracoastal Waterway, winds, inlets, and causeways. Within the refuge boundary, the water quality is generally better compared to portions of the Lagoon.
s and sea turtle
s occupy parts of the lagoon. Around the lagoon in the refuge are two Wood Stork
refuges. These birds along with other wading birds that nest on the island thrive on the tremendous fish population. Pelican Island is home to many nesting birds including Brown Pelican
s, Great Egret
s, Snowy Egret
s, Reddish Egret
s, Great Blue Heron
, Little Blue Heron
, Tricolored Heron
, Black-crowned Night Heron
, American White Ibis
, Glossy Ibis
, Double-crested Cormorant
, Anhinga
, and American Oystercatcher
.
, Blue-winged Teal
, Mottled Duck
s, Great Northern Diver
s, Laughing Gull
s, American White Pelican
s, and Red-breasted Merganser
s. Summer visitors should watch for Roseate Spoonbill
s, Magnificent Frigatebird
s and Least Terns. Pelican Island also features some marine life in the Indian River including sea turtles, dolphins, and manatees.
New public facilities were opened and dedicated on March 14, 2003 in ceremonies marking the Centennial of Pelican Island and the National Wildlife Refuge System. A 37¢ US Commemorative Stamp in honor of the NWR Centennial was issued as part of the celebration. The new facilities include a 1/4 mile boardwalk and 18 foot observation tower to view Pelican Island, two 2.5 mile salt marsh impoundment foot trails,interpretive signs, informational kiosks, restrooms and parking areas.
The facilities are located west of Highway A1A on the north end of Historic Jungle Trail. They were produced through a partnership with Indian River County, St. Johns River Water Management District, Florida Inland Navigation District, Florida Power and Light, ConocoPhillips, Wild Birds Unlimited, the National Fish and Wildlife Foundation, and many others. Future plans include additional boardwalks, an overlook, a photo blind and a wildlife drive.
” regimen."
Staffing at Pelican Island is made up of U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service
. The staff members have recently fallen from six to two which has had many negative consequences. The cuts have led to limiting refuge work and restricting public visitation. Another consequence is the end of 14-year tradition of the wildlife festival.
The United States has seen a huge increase in the wildlife refuge system. It all started with Pelican Island and now is 96 million acres (390,000 km²) including 545 individual refuges, 75 wildernesses, and 1,000 miles (1,600 km) of wild and scenic river, all overseen by USFWS. But with all of these additions, the budgets didn’t see a similar rise to match the refuge growth.
CARE (the Cooperative Alliance for Refuge Enhancement), a coalition of 21 sports and conservation groups, claims that nine of 10 refuges in the northeast won’t be able to meet basic operating costs by 2013. They also say that more than one third of the refuges will lack full-time workers. Along with this, Pelican Island will be losing its only public-use staff and eliminating all active outreach at the nation’s first wildlife refuge.
Many of the cuts are hitting the east coast more drastically than any other national wildlife refuges. However with time, the west coast could be experiencing the same. Grady Hocutt is a 30-year veteran of the USFW and is a former refuge manager. With the budget cuts, the government will put it in a preservation status. “Well, if there's no active law enforcement at a site, there will be trespass and poaching," Hocutt said. "Structures and dikes will fall down, and the invasive plants will sprout up. Try to come back in five years and fix it, and you will find all your problems have grown much, much worse."
Maribeth Oakes told Land Letter, a natural resources weekly report, “There will be a variety of important services lost throughout the Southeast Region such as important law enforcement functions on the refuges, trail maintenance and wildlife management.” Oakes does not expect for these cuts to threaten the wildlife on the refuges directly, but she is worried that the refuges will experience neglect without proper staffing.
Pelican Island will directly lose its only public-use staff and will also eliminate all active outreach. Pelican Island Refuge manager and project leader Paul Tritaik expects the refuge to be hit hard. He is afraid that they will be unable to have volunteer opportunities for people in the local communities. "When you cut us down to a full time staff of two people then our ability to do all the functions of the refuge is going to be so thin. There will be areas that we can't cover and we may end up having to close a number of trails," he said. Tritaik hopes that the staffing cuts are short-lived and that funding will return in the near future.
United States
The United States of America is a federal constitutional republic comprising fifty states and a federal district...
National Wildlife Refuge
National Wildlife Refuge
National Wildlife Refuge is a designation for certain protected areas of the United States managed by the United States Fish and Wildlife Service. The National Wildlife Refuge System is the world's premiere system of public lands and waters set aside to conserve America's fish, wildlife and plants...
located just off the western coast of Orchid Island
Orchid Island, Florida
Orchid Island, Florida, an Atlantic coastal barrier island located in Indian River County, Florida, is actually the Indian River County part of North Hutchinson Island, although that term in not used in Indian River County. Orchid Island is separated from the mainland on the west by the Indian...
in the Indian River Lagoon
Indian River Lagoon
The Indian River Lagoon is a grouping of three lagoons: Mosquito Lagoon, Banana River, and the Indian River, on the Atlantic Coast of Florida. It was originally named Rio de Ais after the Ais Indian tribe, who lived along the east coast of Florida....
east of Sebastian, Florida
Sebastian, Florida
Sebastian is a city in Indian River County, in the Treasure Coast region of Florida, United States. The population was 16,181 at the 2000 census. In 2004, the population recorded by the U.S. Census Bureau was 18,671. As of 2010, the population recorded by the U.S...
. The refuge consists of a 3 acres (12,140.6 m²) island that includes an additional 2.5 acres (10,117.2 m²) of surrounding water and is located off the east coast of Florida
Florida
Florida is a state in the southeastern United States, located on the nation's Atlantic and Gulf coasts. It is bordered to the west by the Gulf of Mexico, to the north by Alabama and Georgia and to the east by the Atlantic Ocean. With a population of 18,801,310 as measured by the 2010 census, it...
of the Indian River Lagoon
Indian River Lagoon
The Indian River Lagoon is a grouping of three lagoons: Mosquito Lagoon, Banana River, and the Indian River, on the Atlantic Coast of Florida. It was originally named Rio de Ais after the Ais Indian tribe, who lived along the east coast of Florida....
. Established by an executive order of President
President of the United States
The President of the United States of America is the head of state and head of government of the United States. The president leads the executive branch of the federal government and is the commander-in-chief of the United States Armed Forces....
Theodore Roosevelt
Theodore Roosevelt
Theodore "Teddy" Roosevelt was the 26th President of the United States . He is noted for his exuberant personality, range of interests and achievements, and his leadership of the Progressive Movement, as well as his "cowboy" persona and robust masculinity...
on March 14, 1903, Pelican Island was the first national wildlife refuge in the United States. It was created to protect egret
Egret
An egret is any of several herons, most of which are white or buff, and several of which develop fine plumes during the breeding season. Many egrets are members of the genera Egretta or Ardea which contain other species named as herons rather than egrets...
s and other birds from extinction by plume hunters.
Early history
Pelican Island’s bird populations were threatened because of increased American settlement around the area in the mid-19th century. Many of the exotic birds were killed for their feathers, used in the fashion industry. Plumes from the birds were used to adorn ladies' hats of the day and at the time were worth more than their weight in gold.Paul Kroegel, a German immigrant
German American
German Americans are citizens of the United States of German ancestry and comprise about 51 million people, or 17% of the U.S. population, the country's largest self-reported ancestral group...
, moved to Florida in 1881 and lived on the west bank of Indian River Lagoon
Indian River Lagoon
The Indian River Lagoon is a grouping of three lagoons: Mosquito Lagoon, Banana River, and the Indian River, on the Atlantic Coast of Florida. It was originally named Rio de Ais after the Ais Indian tribe, who lived along the east coast of Florida....
. He was fascinated with the pelicans on the island. Being able to see the island from his home, Paul would watch the pelicans and other water birds. He eventually took an interest in the island and its protection. However, there was not any state or federal law to help him so he took control of the situation himself. Kroegel sailed to the island to stand guard and protect the birds and the island.
A few naturalists visited Kroegel at Pelican Island. A curator at the American Museum of Natural History
American Museum of Natural History
The American Museum of Natural History , located on the Upper West Side of Manhattan in New York City, United States, is one of the largest and most celebrated museums in the world...
in New York, Frank Chapman
Frank Chapman
Frank Michler Chapman was a U.S. ornithologist and pioneering writer of field guides.Chapman was born in West Englewood, New Jersey and attended Englewood Academy. He joined the staff of the American Museum of Natural History in 1888 as assistant to Joel Asaph Allen...
, was one of the naturalists showing interest in the island as well. He discovered that Pelican Island was one of the last rookeries
Rookery
A rookery is a colony of breeding animals, generally birds. A rook is a Northern European and Central Asian member of the crow family, which nest in prominent colonies at the tops of trees. The term is applied to the nesting place of birds, such as crows and rooks, the source of the term...
of Brown pelican
Brown Pelican
The Brown Pelican is the smallest of the eight species of pelican, although it is a large bird in nearly every other regard. It is in length, weighs from and has a wingspan from .-Range and habits:...
s on the eastern coast of Florida.
The American Ornithologists' Union
American Ornithologists' Union
The American Ornithologists' Union is an ornithological organization in the USA. Unlike the National Audubon Society, its members are primarily professional ornithologists rather than amateur birders...
and the Florida Audubon Society
National Audubon Society
The National Audubon Society is an American non-profit environmental organization dedicated to conservation. Incorporated in 1905, Audubon is one of the oldest of such organizations in the world and uses science, education and grassroots advocacy to advance its conservation mission...
led a campaign to pass legislation for protection of non-game birds in 1901. Kroegel was hired by the Florida Audubon Society to protect the water birds from the game hunters. Knowing that the protection of Pelican Island would require more legislation, Chapman and his fellow advocate, William Dutcher went to President Theodore Roosevelt
Theodore Roosevelt
Theodore "Teddy" Roosevelt was the 26th President of the United States . He is noted for his exuberant personality, range of interests and achievements, and his leadership of the Progressive Movement, as well as his "cowboy" persona and robust masculinity...
at his home in New York. The two appealed their case to Roosevelt’s conservative ethics. President Roosevelt signed an executive order that established Pelican Island as the first federal bird reservation. This was the first time that the federal government put land aside for the sake of wildlife. The area, however, was open for big game hunters.
Recent threats
During the 1960s, Pelican Island was threatened by attempts to sell the surrounding wetlands and islands to developers. Local citizens led a fight to protect Pelican Island by stopping the sale of the wetlands. The Indian River Area Preservation League, formed by local citrus growers, commercial fishermen, and sportsmen, joined with Florida Audubon Society to convince the State to include the islands as a part of the refuge.“Later in 1963, Pelican Island was designated as a National Historic Landmark by the Secretary of the Interior because of its status as the first federal area set aside specifically to protect wildlife.”
In 1968, Florida agreed to expand to include nearly 5000 acres (20 km²) of mangrove islands and other submerged lands. And then in 1970, Pelican Island became the smallest wilderness area in the National Wilderness Preservation System
National Wilderness Preservation System
The National Wilderness Preservation System of the United States protects federally managed land areas designated for preservation in their natural condition. It was established by the Wilderness Act upon the signature of President Lyndon B. Johnson on September 3, 1964...
. Since, the refuge has gained over 500 acres (2 km²) through purchases, management agreements, and conservation easements to provide a buffer against encroaching development and also to be a link to the Archie Carr National Wildlife Refuge
Archie Carr National Wildlife Refuge
The Archie Carr National Wildlife Refuge is part of the United States National Wildlife Refuge System, located along a twenty mile section of coastline from Melbourne Beach to Wabasso Beach, Florida along Florida State Road A1A. The 900 acre refuge was established in 1991, to protect the...
. Pelican Island National Wildlife Refuge was added to the list of wetlands of international importance
Ramsar list of wetlands of international importance
This is the list of wetlands of international importance as defined by the Ramsar Convention for the conservation and sustainable utilization of wetlands, recognizing the fundamental ecological functions of wetlands and their economic, cultural, scientific, and recreational value.The Convention...
under the Ramsar Convention
Ramsar Convention
The Ramsar Convention is an international treaty for the conservation and sustainable utilization of wetlands, i.e., to stem the progressive encroachment on and loss of wetlands now and in the future, recognizing the fundamental ecological functions of wetlands and their economic, cultural,...
signed in 1971.
Today, Pelican Island is also threatened by shoreline development. Shoreline development has many negative impacts associated with it. Shoreline Development can reduce the water quality by increasing the runoff of sediments, fertilizers, and pesticides. These runoffs will cause decline in water quality and this can directly affect the food base that sustains the island’s nesting bird colonies. Waterfront development will also lead to more boat traffic. This extra boat traffic will also negatively affect the birds on the coast. Not only this, development of the shorelines of Pelican Island will permanently flaw the pristine character of this unique National Historic Landmark.
Physical environment
The environment of Pelican Island consists of climate, topography, geology, air quality, and waterways.Climate
The climate at Pelican Island NWR is subtropical and temperate and experiences an average temperate of 67 °F (19.4 °C). Pelican Island has long, warm, and humid summers and short, mild winters and has an average rainfall of about 55 to 60 inches (1.5 m) annually. Pelican Island may experience tropical storms in the period from May to November.Topography
The elevation of Pelican Island changes from east to west. It rises sharply from sea level to about fifteen feet and then drops back down more slowly to below sea level in the Indian River Lagoon. The area between the Indian River Lagoon and St. Sebastian River is twenty feet. Even further west, there is an ancient dune that rises in elevation from twenty feet to thirty feet.Geology
The landscape of Pelican Island area is made of PleistocenePleistocene
The Pleistocene is the epoch from 2,588,000 to 11,700 years BP that spans the world's recent period of repeated glaciations. The name pleistocene is derived from the Greek and ....
(glacial) and Holocene
Holocene
The Holocene is a geological epoch which began at the end of the Pleistocene and continues to the present. The Holocene is part of the Quaternary period. Its name comes from the Greek words and , meaning "entirely recent"...
(recent) origin. Submerged lands were exposed during the late Pleistocene period, allowing for the spread of flora and fauna from the peninsula. Wetland
Wetland
A wetland is an area of land whose soil is saturated with water either permanently or seasonally. Wetlands are categorised by their characteristic vegetation, which is adapted to these unique soil conditions....
s, salt marsh
Salt marsh
A salt marsh is an environment in the upper coastal intertidal zone between land and salt water or brackish water, it is dominated by dense stands of halophytic plants such as herbs, grasses, or low shrubs. These plants are terrestrial in origin and are essential to the stability of the salt marsh...
es, mangrove
Mangrove
Mangroves are various kinds of trees up to medium height and shrubs that grow in saline coastal sediment habitats in the tropics and subtropics – mainly between latitudes N and S...
s, and other swampy formations make up the uplands and submerged lands.
Soil
“The general soils in the Pelican Island Refuge are Canaveral-Captiva-Palm Beach, which is characterized by the gently sloping, somewhat poorly drained to moderately drained sandy soils with shell fragments, and McKee-Quartzipsamments-St. Augustine, which is characterized by level, somewhat poorly drained soils mixed with sand and shell fragments.” Other soils include Canaveral Fine Sand, Quartzipsamments, Captiva Fine Sand, McKee Mucky Clay Loam, and Kesson Muck.Air quality
Good air quality is vital for the refuge maintain itself. A few problems dealing with air pollution are carbon monoxideCarbon monoxide
Carbon monoxide , also called carbonous oxide, is a colorless, odorless, and tasteless gas that is slightly lighter than air. It is highly toxic to humans and animals in higher quantities, although it is also produced in normal animal metabolism in low quantities, and is thought to have some normal...
, lead, nitrogen dioxide
Nitrogen dioxide
Nitrogen dioxide is the chemical compound with the formula it is one of several nitrogen oxides. is an intermediate in the industrial synthesis of nitric acid, millions of tons of which are produced each year. This reddish-brown toxic gas has a characteristic sharp, biting odor and is a prominent...
, ozone
Ozone
Ozone , or trioxygen, is a triatomic molecule, consisting of three oxygen atoms. It is an allotrope of oxygen that is much less stable than the diatomic allotrope...
, particulate matter, and sulfur dioxide
Sulfur dioxide
Sulfur dioxide is the chemical compound with the formula . It is released by volcanoes and in various industrial processes. Since coal and petroleum often contain sulfur compounds, their combustion generates sulfur dioxide unless the sulfur compounds are removed before burning the fuel...
. The primary producers of these pollutants are vehicle emissions, power plants, and industrial activities. The Indian River Lagoon area is said to have good air quality. Sometimes occasional temperate increases can temporarily degrade the air quality below the accepted levels.
Waterways
The Indian River Lagoon stretches from Ponce de LeonPonce de Leon, Florida
Ponce de Leon is a town in Holmes County, Florida, United States. The population was 457 at the 2000 census. As of 2004, the population recorded by the U.S. Census Bureau is 462 .According to Ponce de Leon town Census 2010 results, the population of the area was approximately 598 people...
south of Daytona Beach
Daytona Beach, Florida
Daytona Beach is a city in Volusia County, Florida, USA. According to 2008 U.S. Census Bureau estimates, the city has a population of 64,211. Daytona Beach is a principal city of the Deltona – Daytona Beach – Ormond Beach, Florida Metropolitan Statistical Area, which the census bureau estimated had...
to Jupiter Inlet near West Palm Beach
West Palm Beach, Florida
West Palm Beach, is a city located on the Atlantic coast in southeastern Florida and is the most populous city in and county seat of Palm Beach County, the third most populous county in Florida with a 2010 population of 1,320,134. The city is also the oldest incorporated municipality in South Florida...
, a distance of about 155 miles (249.4 km), and contains a number of small rivers, creeks, and canals. The Intracoastal Waterway is the deepest part of the Lagoon. St. Sebastian River and Turkey Creek provide freshwater to the Lagoon. Water quality is also a concern in the refuge: cadmium
Cadmium
Cadmium is a chemical element with the symbol Cd and atomic number 48. This soft, bluish-white metal is chemically similar to the two other stable metals in group 12, zinc and mercury. Similar to zinc, it prefers oxidation state +2 in most of its compounds and similar to mercury it shows a low...
, lead
Lead
Lead is a main-group element in the carbon group with the symbol Pb and atomic number 82. Lead is a soft, malleable poor metal. It is also counted as one of the heavy metals. Metallic lead has a bluish-white color after being freshly cut, but it soon tarnishes to a dull grayish color when exposed...
, mercury
Mercury (element)
Mercury is a chemical element with the symbol Hg and atomic number 80. It is also known as quicksilver or hydrargyrum...
, nutrients, selenium
Selenium
Selenium is a chemical element with atomic number 34, chemical symbol Se, and an atomic mass of 78.96. It is a nonmetal, whose properties are intermediate between those of adjacent chalcogen elements sulfur and tellurium...
, thallium
Thallium
Thallium is a chemical element with the symbol Tl and atomic number 81. This soft gray poor metal resembles tin but discolors when exposed to air. The two chemists William Crookes and Claude-Auguste Lamy discovered thallium independently in 1861 by the newly developed method of flame spectroscopy...
, and dissolved oxygen. The water circulation is affected by the Intracoastal Waterway, winds, inlets, and causeways. Within the refuge boundary, the water quality is generally better compared to portions of the Lagoon.
Wildlife
Pelican Island National Wildlife Refuge holds hundreds of species of animals including birds, fish, plants, and mammals. The wetlands of Pelican Island are a major ecological system supporting the huge biological diversity. Fifteen federally listed threatened and endangered species live in Pelican Island NWR and around Indian River Lagoon. Of the endangered species, West Indian ManateeWest Indian Manatee
The West Indian Manatee is a manatee, and the largest surviving member of the aquatic mammal order Sirenia . The West Indian Manatee, Trichechus manatus, is a species distinct from the Amazonian Manatee, T. inunguis, and the West African Manatee, T. senegalensis...
s and sea turtle
Sea turtle
Sea turtles are marine reptiles that inhabit all of the world's oceans except the Arctic.-Distribution:...
s occupy parts of the lagoon. Around the lagoon in the refuge are two Wood Stork
Wood Stork
The Wood Stork is a large American wading bird in the stork family Ciconiidae. It was formerly called the "Wood Ibis", though it is not really an ibis.-Appearance:...
refuges. These birds along with other wading birds that nest on the island thrive on the tremendous fish population. Pelican Island is home to many nesting birds including Brown Pelican
Brown Pelican
The Brown Pelican is the smallest of the eight species of pelican, although it is a large bird in nearly every other regard. It is in length, weighs from and has a wingspan from .-Range and habits:...
s, Great Egret
Great Egret
The Great Egret , also known as the Great White Egret or Common Egret, White Heron, or Great White Heron, is a large, widely-distributed egret. Distributed across most of the tropical and warmer temperate regions of the world, in southern Europe it is rather localized...
s, Snowy Egret
Snowy Egret
The Snowy Egret is a small white heron. It is the American counterpart to the very similar Old World Little Egret, which has established a foothold in the Bahamas....
s, Reddish Egret
Reddish Egret
The Reddish Egret is a small heron. It is a resident breeder in Central America, The Bahamas, the Caribbean, the Gulf Coast of the United States, and Mexico. There is post-breeding dispersal to well north of the nesting range...
s, Great Blue Heron
Great Blue Heron
The Great Blue Heron is a large wading bird in the heron family Ardeidae, common near the shores of open water and in wetlands over most of North and Central America as well as the West Indies and the Galápagos Islands. It is a rare vagrant to Europe, with records from Spain, the Azores and England...
, Little Blue Heron
Little Blue Heron
The Little Blue Heron, Egretta caerulea, is a small heron. It breeds from the Gulf states of the USA through Central America and the Caribbean south to Peru and Uruguay. It is a resident breeder in most of its range, but some northern breeders migrate to the southeastern USA or beyond in winter...
, Tricolored Heron
Tricolored Heron
The Tricolored Heron formerly known in North America as the Louisiana Heron, is a small heron. It is a resident breeder from the Gulf states of the USA and northern Mexico south through Central America and the Caribbean to central Brazil and Peru...
, Black-crowned Night Heron
Black-crowned Night Heron
The Black-crowned Night Heron commonly abbreviated to just Night Heron in Eurasia, is a medium-sized heron found throughout a large part of the world, except in the coldest regions and Australasia .-Description:Adults are...
, American White Ibis
American White Ibis
The American White Ibis is a species of wading bird in the ibis family Threskiornithidae. It occurs from the mid-Atlantic and Gulf coast of the United States south through most of the New World tropics...
, Glossy Ibis
Glossy Ibis
The Glossy Ibis is a wading bird in the ibis family Threskiornithidae.This is the most widespread ibis species, breeding in scattered sites in warm regions of Europe, Asia, Africa, Australia, and the Atlantic and Caribbean region of the Americas...
, Double-crested Cormorant
Double-crested Cormorant
The Double-crested Cormorant is a member of the cormorant family of seabirds. It occurs along inland waterways as well as in coastal areas, and is widely distributed across North America, from the Aleutian Islands in Alaska down to Florida and Mexico...
, Anhinga
Anhinga
The Anhinga , sometimes called Snakebird, Darter, American Darter, or Water Turkey, is a water bird of the warmer parts of the Americas. The word "anhinga" comes from the Brazilian Tupi language and means devil bird or snake bird.It is a cormorant-like bird with an average body length of , a...
, and American Oystercatcher
American Oystercatcher
The American Oystercatcher , occasionally called the American Pied Oystercatcher, is a member of family Haematopodidae. The bird is marked by its black and white body and a long, thick orange beak...
.
Visiting
Pelican Island is only accessible by boat or chartered tours. Nesting birds are easily disturbed, so people are not allowed to get too close or to disembark. Visiting during nesting season (late November through late July), one can expect to see Brown Pelican, Wood Storks, White Ibises, Black-crowned Night Herons, Double-crested Cormorants, Reddish, Snowy, and Great egrets, and Great Blue, Little Blue and Tricolored Herons. Traveling in the winter, look for Lesser ScaupLesser Scaup
The Lesser Scaup is a small North American diving duck that migrates south as far as Central America in winter. It is colloquially known as the Little Bluebill or Broadbill because of its distinctive blue bill...
, Blue-winged Teal
Blue-winged Teal
The Blue-winged Teal is a small dabbling duck from North America.-Description:The Blue-winged Teal is long, with a wingspan of , and a weight of . The adult male has a greyish blue head with a white facial crescent, a light brown body with a white patch near the rear and a black tail. The adult...
, Mottled Duck
Mottled Duck
The Mottled Duck or Mottled Mallard is a medium-sized dabbling duck. It is intermediate in appearance between the female Mallard and the American Black Duck. It is closely related to those species, and is sometimes considered a subspecies of the former, but this is inappropriate .There are two...
s, Great Northern Diver
Great Northern Diver
The Great Northern Loon, Great Northern Diver, or Common Loon , is a large member of the loon, or diver, family of birds...
s, Laughing Gull
Laughing Gull
The Laughing Gull, Leucophaeus atricilla, is a medium-sized gull of North and South America. It breeds on the Atlantic coast of North America, the Caribbean, and northern South America. Northernmost populations migrate further south in winter, and this species occurs as a rare vagrant to western...
s, American White Pelican
American White Pelican
The American White Pelican is a large aquatic bird from the order Pelecaniformes. It breeds in interior North America, moving south and to the coasts, as far as Central America, in winter....
s, and Red-breasted Merganser
Red-breasted Merganser
The Red-breasted Merganser is a diving duck.-Taxonomy:The Red-breasted Merganser was one of the many species originally described by Linnaeus in his 18th-century work, Systema Naturae.-Description:...
s. Summer visitors should watch for Roseate Spoonbill
Roseate Spoonbill
The Roseate Spoonbill, Platalea ajaja, is a gregarious wading bird of the ibis and spoonbill family, Threskiornithidae...
s, Magnificent Frigatebird
Magnificent Frigatebird
The Magnificent Frigatebird was sometimes previously known as Man O'War, reflecting its rakish lines, speed, and aerial piracy of other birds....
s and Least Terns. Pelican Island also features some marine life in the Indian River including sea turtles, dolphins, and manatees.
New public facilities were opened and dedicated on March 14, 2003 in ceremonies marking the Centennial of Pelican Island and the National Wildlife Refuge System. A 37¢ US Commemorative Stamp in honor of the NWR Centennial was issued as part of the celebration. The new facilities include a 1/4 mile boardwalk and 18 foot observation tower to view Pelican Island, two 2.5 mile salt marsh impoundment foot trails,interpretive signs, informational kiosks, restrooms and parking areas.
The facilities are located west of Highway A1A on the north end of Historic Jungle Trail. They were produced through a partnership with Indian River County, St. Johns River Water Management District, Florida Inland Navigation District, Florida Power and Light, ConocoPhillips, Wild Birds Unlimited, the National Fish and Wildlife Foundation, and many others. Future plans include additional boardwalks, an overlook, a photo blind and a wildlife drive.
Budget cuts
Pelican Island, along with many other wildlife refuges, has been experiencing budget cuts. Many problems arise from the stagnant budget and lack of maintenance in the wildlife refuges. These are vital to preserve the habitat and the wildlife and to provide public education and recreation. This situation worsened further because of the failure of the 109th Congress to pass federal funding bills. “This, in return, means that the funding will limp along at the lowest possible level under a “continuing resolutionContinuing resolution
A continuing resolution is a type of appropriations legislation used by the United States Congress to fund government agencies if a formal appropriations bill has not been signed into law by the end of the Congressional fiscal year...
” regimen."
Staffing at Pelican Island is made up of U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service
United States Fish and Wildlife Service
The United States Fish and Wildlife Service is a federal government agency within the United States Department of the Interior dedicated to the management of fish, wildlife, and natural habitats...
. The staff members have recently fallen from six to two which has had many negative consequences. The cuts have led to limiting refuge work and restricting public visitation. Another consequence is the end of 14-year tradition of the wildlife festival.
The United States has seen a huge increase in the wildlife refuge system. It all started with Pelican Island and now is 96 million acres (390,000 km²) including 545 individual refuges, 75 wildernesses, and 1,000 miles (1,600 km) of wild and scenic river, all overseen by USFWS. But with all of these additions, the budgets didn’t see a similar rise to match the refuge growth.
CARE (the Cooperative Alliance for Refuge Enhancement), a coalition of 21 sports and conservation groups, claims that nine of 10 refuges in the northeast won’t be able to meet basic operating costs by 2013. They also say that more than one third of the refuges will lack full-time workers. Along with this, Pelican Island will be losing its only public-use staff and eliminating all active outreach at the nation’s first wildlife refuge.
Many of the cuts are hitting the east coast more drastically than any other national wildlife refuges. However with time, the west coast could be experiencing the same. Grady Hocutt is a 30-year veteran of the USFW and is a former refuge manager. With the budget cuts, the government will put it in a preservation status. “Well, if there's no active law enforcement at a site, there will be trespass and poaching," Hocutt said. "Structures and dikes will fall down, and the invasive plants will sprout up. Try to come back in five years and fix it, and you will find all your problems have grown much, much worse."
Maribeth Oakes told Land Letter, a natural resources weekly report, “There will be a variety of important services lost throughout the Southeast Region such as important law enforcement functions on the refuges, trail maintenance and wildlife management.” Oakes does not expect for these cuts to threaten the wildlife on the refuges directly, but she is worried that the refuges will experience neglect without proper staffing.
Pelican Island will directly lose its only public-use staff and will also eliminate all active outreach. Pelican Island Refuge manager and project leader Paul Tritaik expects the refuge to be hit hard. He is afraid that they will be unable to have volunteer opportunities for people in the local communities. "When you cut us down to a full time staff of two people then our ability to do all the functions of the refuge is going to be so thin. There will be areas that we can't cover and we may end up having to close a number of trails," he said. Tritaik hopes that the staffing cuts are short-lived and that funding will return in the near future.
See also
- Florida State ParksFlorida State ParksThe Florida State Parks encompass the majority of the lands that fall under the authority of the Florida Department of Environmental Protection. There are 160 such entities, including nature reserves, recreation areas, and historic sites, which can be found in every corner of the state...
- Indian River County, FloridaIndian River County, FloridaIndian River County is a county located in the Treasure Coast region in the U.S. state of Florida. As of 2000, the population was 112,947. The U.S. Census Bureau 2005 estimate for the county is 128,594...
- List of National Wildlife Refuges