PELICANS always seem to attract attention. They waddle along beaches, gracefully paddle in the water and fly overhead following the thermals. But while they appear to be common, especially when looking for scraps around piers and jetties, pelican numbers are declining.
The Westernport Pelican Study Group reports that just two of a previously known 10 Victorian breeding sites remain.
A breeding site on French Island “went extinct” in 2001, according to the group, and pelican numbers in Western Port have been declining ever since.
Study group members look for and photograph banded pelicans and have also appealed for members of the public to report numbers and colours of leg tags, along with the date and time of sighting. Pictures or emails can be sent to wpsg2020@gmail.com or uploaded to facebook.com/groups/532493277609873.
First published in the Westernport News – 15th May 2024
