Observations on the White Pelican in Western Nevada

Abstract

In the spring of 1940 and continuing until the present time, the writer has taken notes irregularly on the occurrence and activities of White Pelicans (Pelecanus erythrorhynchos) in western Nevada.Previously, Hall (Condor, 27, 1925: 147-160) and Bond (ibid., 42, 1940:246-250) obtained considerable information on these birds at Anaho Island, Washoe County.Migration and Distribution in Churchill County.-Frequentcensus of birds in the large valley in which the town of Fallon is situated has yielded information concerning the arrival, presence and departure of the White Pelican in and from this area.The earliest spring record for 1941 was on March 23, when six were observed five miles north of Stillwater.In 1942 the earliest spring record was February 7, when one was observed five miles west-northwest of Fallon.These birds were recorded also on March 8, 11, 12, 13, and 17 of 1942.In April of 1941, White Pelicans were seen on seven different days and in May of the same year they were seen on ten different days.The early arrivals were seen in flight or on bodies of water that covered 20 acres or more.From this evidence it is judged that the first part of the pelican migration usually arrives in this area in late February or early in March.White Pelicans are more widespread and abundant about Fallon during May and June than at any other time of the year.It was only in this period of greatest numbers that many were seen in the smaller ponds and ditches.On such occasions they frequently were observed in flocks of 5 to 20 in drain ditches that were no more than 10 feet across and that contained water less than two feet deep.Observations in July revealed White Pelicans to be less numerous and less widespread.In August only a few were seen and they were usually lone individuals.No sight records were obtained for September in 1940 or 1941, but in 1942 pelicans were seen in this month on several occasions.One sight record for October is available for 1940 and also one for 1941.The latest record date of White Pelicans in Churchill County is November 23, 1942, when two were obtained.There is no known nesting colony in this valley, the nearest being Anaho Island, in Pyramid Lake, 50 miles or more distant in a northwesterly direction.These observations reveal that many White Pelicans occur about Fallon in the spring migration and to a lesser degree in their .nestingperiod.Their scarcity in late summer and fall is noticeable.Census on Anaho Island, Washoe County.-Thefirst of two visits to the island was on June 14,1942, in the company of G. H. Hansen, V. L. Mills and Frank Richardson.These men all assisted in obtaining counts of young.We saw numerous groups of nests and young birds on the northeast side.Especially on the east and south edges of the island, the previous years' growth of alkali weed (Bassia hyssopfolia) was so thick as to make walking difficult.Several pods of young pelicans were in small clearings within this growth of weeds and thus were isolated from other pods.In areas where there were no weeds, small pods of half-grown pelicans, as also nests with eggs or young, often were so close together as to make difficult the assignment of definite numbers to any one colony.By counts and by estimates a total of 15.53 young pelicans over one-third grown was recorded on June 14.All these were in pods.In addition to these larger young, 176 1 34Vol.