Maintenance Behavior and Communication in the Brown Pelican

Schreiber, Ralph W.

doi:10.2307/40166741

Cited by 12 publications

(5 citation statements)

References 34 publications

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“…For example, we found that gular pouch redness occurred three months earlier than previously described [34, 35]. We saw many birds with red pouches by September at nonbreeding communal roosts, where pouch displays are often used in social interactions [40].…”

Section: Discussionmentioning

confidence: 99%

“…The pouch is multi-layered, including a highly vascular muscle layer and sub-epithelial melanocyte layer [39]. Pouch redness is thought to indicate hormonal activity and breeding readiness [40]. Red gular sac color in the great frigatebird ( Fregata minor) during the breeding season has been related to a combination of carotenoids, hemoglobin, and increased blood flow [41].…”

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

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Use of plumage and gular pouch color to evaluate condition of oil spill rehabilitated California brown pelicans (Pelecanus occidentalis californicus) post-release

Jaques¹,

Mills

Selby

et al. 2019

PLoS ONE

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Sublethal effects of oil spills may dampen seabird rehabilitation success due to lingering negative impacts of contamination and stress on reproduction and long-term survival. These effects can be difficult to measure while birds are in care as well as once birds are released. Expression of sexually selected traits that are sensitive to condition can provide information on physiological status of birds. We evaluated plumage molt and gular pouch skin color of California brown pelicans ( Pelecanus occidentalis californicus) following oil contamination and rehabilitation to test for differences between previously oiled and rehabilitated (post-spill) and presumably uncontaminated pelicans. Post-spill pelicans released with either color leg bands alone, or bands plus harness-mounted satellite GPS tags, were relocated and visually assessed in the field at non-breeding communal roosts and compared to surrounding unmarked pelicans in the general population. Non-oiled pelicans bearing GPS tags were also included in the study. Post-spill pelicans lagged the general population in molt of ornamental yellow crown feathers but hind neck transition into white plumage was not significantly different. Both post-spill and non-oiled pelicans wearing GPS tags had lower gular redness scores than the unmarked, non-oiled population. Pre-breeding gular pouch redness of post-spill pelicans was more strongly influenced by wearing of a GPS tag than a history of oil contamination and rehabilitation. Gular pouch redness of post-spill pelicans in the first 18 months after release was positively correlated with long term survivorship. If gular pouch color is a condition-dependent sexual signal and overall health influences plumage molt progression, our results indicate that many post-spill pelicans marked with bands alone were in relatively good condition going into the next breeding season, but those released with electronic tags experienced additional stress due to wearing the equipment, introducing a confounding variable to the post-release study.

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Section: Discussionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Use of plumage and gular pouch color to evaluate condition of oil spill rehabilitated California brown pelicans (Pelecanus occidentalis californicus) post-release

Jaques¹,

Mills

Selby

et al. 2019

PLoS ONE

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“…To evaluate any influence of enclosure zone occupancy on the likelihood of pelicans being social, a regression analysis was run using the proportion of observation of social (two or more birds) in a zone T A B L E 2 State behaviors used for observations of the pelican flock, with some definitions adapted from Schreiber (1977) Behavior Description…”

Section: Discussionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Understanding sociality and behavior change associated with a nesting event in a captive flock of great white pelicans

2021

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Zoo‐housed pelicans are commonplace, but their breeding record is poor and little research is published on the activity patterns, as potential predictors of nesting, of captive flocks. Existing literature shows that comparative research can provide useful information for husbandry and conservation planning for pelican populations. The opportunity arose to investigate the time‐activity budget and social network of a breeding flock of captive great white pelicans. Three chicks were hatched in June and July 2016 and one in March 2017. Data on state behaviors, space use, and association preferences were collected around these nesting events, from October 2016 to February 2017 and July to October 2017. Results suggest that pre‐nesting periods were associated with heightened flock‐wide vigilance, suggesting that vigilance may be a precursor for courtship or nesting activity. Social network analysis revealed nonrandom associations between birds and a social structure across the flock, in which subadults seemed to associate more with each other than with adult birds. A limited visitor effect was noted; whilst no overall behavior change was apparent with different numbers of visitors, pelicans did widen their enclosure usage with increased visitor presence. These data are relevant to those attempting to breed this pelican, who wish to know more about the daily behavior patterns of this species across the season and physiological state, and who wish to understand pelican social structure, which is useful to the planning and implementation of bird moves or changes to the social environment of the flock. Further extending such research to include uninterrupted observation over a successful breeding event is recommended.

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“…In addition, no systematic comparison was made with other water bird species that do not show spread-wing behavior, such as the penguins and divers (Gaviidae). In spite of these limitations, the conclusion that the poor water repellency of the cormorant's breast feathers is the proximate cause of its characteristic habit of wing-spreading has been generally accepted in the ornithological literature [2,23,[28][29][30][31][32][33][34][35][36][37][38][39]. Since then, further studies on the "wing-drying" of cormorants have overwhelmingly supported the notion that its function is the drying of contour feathers and not thermoregulation, balancing, intraspecific signaling or an aid to swallowing fish [25].…”

Section: Water Repellency Water Resistance and Spread-wing Posturesmentioning

confidence: 99%

Feather Structure and Behavioral Patterns in Seabirds

Rijke¹

2018

Seabirds

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The structural details of the flight and contour feathers of seabirds closely match the requirements of their habitats and feeding habits. They serve a variety of functions ranging from intraspecific signaling to such physical qualities as thermal insulation, water repellency and resistance to impact. It comes as no surprise, therefore, that they are composed of an array of elements that confer these qualities to the optimal benefit of their avian bearer. In this chapter, the physical bases for these functions are provided in both mathematical and evolutionary terms. Some functions excel at the expense of others, and many species have evolved an optimal balance between functions in terms of both feather microstructure and behavioral patterns that suit their specific habitat and feeding habits.The effects of mechanical forces on feathers are presented in terms of the impact of diving, plunging and alighting, and the structural properties in seabird feathers identifiable as adaptations to these forces. Finally, the way oiling affects the water repellency and resistance of feathers is discussed. It is concluded that the flight and contour feathers exhibit morphological and mechanical features that are advantageous for specific habitats and feeding techniques.

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Maintenance Behavior and Communication in the Brown Pelican

Cited by 12 publications

References 34 publications

Use of plumage and gular pouch color to evaluate condition of oil spill rehabilitated California brown pelicans (Pelecanus occidentalis californicus) post-release

Use of plumage and gular pouch color to evaluate condition of oil spill rehabilitated California brown pelicans (Pelecanus occidentalis californicus) post-release

Understanding sociality and behavior change associated with a nesting event in a captive flock of great white pelicans

Feather Structure and Behavioral Patterns in Seabirds

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