Brown Pelican in Rockport Harbor, TX

The Brown Pelican (Pelecanus occidentalis) is a common site in Rockport, Texas Harbor. We observed one from Captain Tommy’s boat during a Rockport Birding and Kayak Adventures tour. This coastal bird shows a brown body and pale head in breeding season and it’s signature bill built for fishing. Brown Pelicans plunge-dive headfirst into Aransas Bay to feed, often resting on pilings and shrimp boats around the harbor. Once endangered due to DDT, they rebounded after the pesticide was banned. Removed from the endangered species list in 2009, they now thrive along the Texas Gulf Coast.