Brown Pelicans Struggling to Survive
http://articles.latimes.com/2010/feb/05/nation/la-na-dying-pelicans5-2010feb05
Pelicans along the Oregon coast are mysteriously dying. Researchers have looked at possible causes such as unusual ocean currents, warmer temperatures or toxic runoff. However a likely cause of death is starvation. Food sources in Oregon were plentiful throughout most of the winter giving pelicans no reason to leave, but in January when the days get windier the pelicans are stuck where they are, even if there is no more food. So the flightless birds lose energy and by the time the weather improves the birds are too weak to find food. In San Pedro, the International Bird Rescue Research Center has taken in about 130 pelicans but even with help from others these facilitys are reaching capacity. Julia Parrish, head of a regional seabird survey tea commented on the issue, "Lots of organisms are going to starve but that's how the ecosystem regulates itself and it can be pretty ugly."
I chose to read this article because this issue seemed interesting and I wanted to get more information on it. The interesting part in my opinion was that pelicans were once on the endangered species list because of an egg thinning pesticide in 1970. Of course they're still around today but this would be at least the 2nd time they've been added to the endangered species list.
What now? Well hopefully there aren't any more problems that risk the pelicans existence in the future especially from human caused problems. Next steps? I would say that our next steps should be working towards removing other animals from the endangered species list before they're gone and preventing any more animals from being put on the list.
I chose to read this article because this issue seemed interesting and I wanted to get more information on it. The interesting part in my opinion was that pelicans were once on the endangered species list because of an egg thinning pesticide in 1970. Of course they're still around today but this would be at least the 2nd time they've been added to the endangered species list.
What now? Well hopefully there aren't any more problems that risk the pelicans existence in the future especially from human caused problems. Next steps? I would say that our next steps should be working towards removing other animals from the endangered species list before they're gone and preventing any more animals from being put on the list.