Visitors to Pelican Island NWR

By the time this image was taken Pelican Island had endured many threats. Plume hunters had eliminated all nesting species but the brown pelican. Freezes and hurricanes had killed and removed most of the mangrove vegetation forcing the pelicans to nest on the ground. Yet, Paul Kroegel could visit the island seemingly with little effect on the birds. Today, vegetation has returned to Pelican Island and birds are nesting once again in the mangroves. The island is closed to visitors to preserve the fragile nesting island and protect its residence.