FWS Employee Bands Brown Pelican

FWS personnel banding a Brown Pelican. Pelicans almost disappeared from Texas because they were poisoned by the pesticide DDT, which caused them to lay thin-shelled eggs which broke during incubation. Because they were not able to produce young, the number of Pelicans dropped to less than 100 birds during the years 1967-1974. Since DDT was banned in 1972, Pelicans have made a steady comeback.