Pelicans and The Oregon Coast

A few weeks ago my mother came to visit us for a few days. Whenever she comes we try to have a bonfire on our beautiful little Gleneden Beach. It was a gorgeous summer evening. The sun was setting, the fog was clearing, and there was no wind! Wind and fog are big factors in the summer up here on the Oregon Coast. So to have a gorgeous, relatively warm day and evening are never taken for granted.

I jokingly called my husband the “cabana boy.” He earned this title because he does all the work once we get down to the beach. He starts the fire, and even roasts our hot dogs and marshmallows. So while he was slaving away, my mom and I were oohing and awwing over the sunset.

Suddenly, out of nowhere, a group of about ten pelicans came swooping in and flying together in a perfect v-shaped formation along the waves. It was so beautiful!

Only one other time, here in Oregon, I witnessed this beautiful scene. It was an afternoon and I was taking a walk on the beach to clear my head and get some fresh air. After a while I sat down on the sand and out of nowhere came the pelicans flying along the waves in perfect sync.

I’ve always enjoyed watching the pelicans. Growing up in Southern California I would watch the pelicans dive for fish in the ocean or Newport Beach harbor. They would also hang out and compete with the fisherman at the end of the several different piers that dot the Orange County coastline.

This is a picture of a pelican on the Huntington Beach pier in Orange County.

My husband Brandon took this great photo!

While we were dating we took a trip down to Southern California to visit and introduce him to friends and family. On one of our last days, we spent a sunny Sunday afternoon in Huntington Beach. This extraordinary pelican was sitting on the pier just staring at everyone. As tourists were snapping their cameras, the pelican didn’t seem to mind–In fact, I think he rather enjoyed the attention! However, if Brandon had gotten any closer I’m afraid that bird would have turned and taken a good chunk out of him. Good thing I snapped fast!

In Northern California pelicans famously hang around the Monterey pier. When I was a kid my family would spend Thanksgiving in Monterey and play the famous golf courses in Pebble Beach. After our day on the course–a very cold torturous day on the course (I wasn’t the biggest golf fan)–, my parents would drive us down the to pier and cannery row for some sightseeing. At that time you could purchase a bucket of small fish to feed the seals that would hang out around the pier. My brothers and I would stand on the pier while the seals swam below barking loudly. We would drop the fish and hope the seals would catch them before a pelican swooped in and took it for himself! It was quite the show.

Unfortunately, like most little kids, I was prone to tantrums and some whining. One particular day on the pier, I was just throwing a fit over something, I can’t remember now what it was, but at the time my dad was fed up and had enough of my behavior! He drew an imaginary circle on the pier and I was told I had to stand in that circle and not move. Well, I knew I had pushed it and crossed the line with Dad. We still have the home video of that day. Boy, I obediently stood in that circle and didn’t move an inch until my parents said so! LOL…It’s a story we laugh about till this day!

But back to pelicans!

I don’t see pelicans in Oregon as often as I did in California. I really don’t know why. Maybe California pelicans are just more social? Nah, probably not!  But it’s piqued my interest and maybe I’ll find the answer as I research a little more. However, they are here!! In fact, if you want to see a pelican up close and personal I suggest visiting the Oregon Coast Aquarium in Newport. There is an injured pelican that lives there named Jojo. She shows off for the guests by hopping around and performing little tricks. If she does a good job she gets a fish! Jojo can no longer live in the wild due to an injured shoulder. Thankfully, she lives a happy life at the aquarium.

I thought it would be fun to share some fun facts about Oregon brown pelicans with my readers. And if any of you have any fun pelican facts to add please do so in the comment section! I would love to hear from you!

Brown Pelican Fun Facts:

-Brown pelicans are found in Oregon estuaries and beaches in the summer, fall, and spring.

-They are easy to spot by their massive bill, large size, and brown plumage.

-These pelicans form large flocks and can be seen foraging just offshore.

-They are also often seen in large numbers hanging out on the jetties in Newport in the Yaquina Bay

-Brown pelicans are still listed in Oregon as endangered species. In the 1970s these birds were affected by DDT poisoning. However, since the banning of DDT and other pesticides, the birds have rebounded– but not quite to their original numbers.

Hopefully, we will get there soon!

We want to preserve these beautiful birds so we can have more memorable evenings on a beach with our loved ones where out of the blue, we can witness a v-shaped flock of pelicans swiftly flying and cruising the ocean shores!