Utah Bird Records Committee

  
Rec. # 2004-06
Brown Pelican

Date first observed:  19 Apr 2004
Location:  Newcastle  Reservoir

Sightings:

• 19 Apr 2004 - A Brown Pelican was picked up by G. Farnsworth from along I-15 at the north Beaver interchange.  It was rehabilitate and release at Quail Creek SP.
• 6-10 May 2004 - reported at Newcastle Reservoir by M. Ottenbacher.
• 12 May 2004 - by Kevin Wheeler (photos) , Charlie Sheard  [Record # 2004-06]
• 12 May 2004 - by David Wheeler
• 13 May 2004 - by Merrill Webb and Glenn Barlow
• 15 May 2004 - by Steve Summers
• 17 May 2004 - Kristen Comella, Rick Fridell (photo D)

Sighting Records:

• 2004-06

Records Committee Review:

  
Note:  (The following is a quote from an e-mail  about the Brown Pelican from Rick Fridell to the birdnet - Sat, 29 May 2004)

Here is some belated information on the Southern Utah Brown Pelican:
     A Brown Pelican was reported to the Utah Division of Wildlife Resources on April 19th. It was grounded along I-15 at the north Beaver interchange. It was picked up by a Conservation Officer (B. Farnsworth) and delivered to the UDWR Regional Office in Cedar City. It was inspected and fed, and since it had no serious injuries, it was transported and released at Quail Creek State Park (Washington County) by Officer J. Schijf. In early May, between the 6th and 10th, a Brown Pelican was observed at New Castle Reservoir (Iron Co.) by Aquatic Biologist M. Ottenbacher. Kevin Wheeler and Charlie Sheard photographed it on May 12th and posted it to the birdnet. It was subsequently seen by many individuals and last reported on May 17th. 
     I'm not sure if it still present.
     There has been some confusion on whether or not there was both an adult  and
an immature pelican, however I believe it is the same bird (at Beaver, Quail, and Newcastle). I've asked several UDWR employees that saw the pelican in the office and they say it had a brown head (rather than the white head of an adult). I have heard that one individual thought it  was an
adult, but I have not had a chance to contact him.

Summary: With excellent photos of the bird there was no question about the ID, but the record was sent to the next round because of some concern about the origin of the bird. With additional information and exchange of comments the record was accepted unanimously in the second round.