American White Pelican Habitat Protection Summary

The American White Pelican, with a three metre wing span, is one of the largest and most distinctive birds in North America. American White Pelicans nest in groups on remote, barren or sparsely treed islands in large lakes in northwestern Ontario. The species was assessed by the Committee on the Status of Species at Risk in Ontario (COSSARO) and listed as threatened on February 18, 2009. More information about the species' status can be found at: /page/american-white-pelican.

The regulated habitat of the American White Pelican protects areas used by an American White Pelican, or an American White Pelican colony, for nesting, as well as areas, including land and water, within 300 metres of either individual nests or the outermost nests of a colony. Such areas are protected if an American White Pelican is nesting there or has nested there at any time in the previous 10 years.

The regulation applies where nesting sites occur in the territorial districts of Kenora, Rainy River, and Thunder Bay.

Supporting rationale:

• An area of 300 metres around a nest or nesting colony is meant to protect the area used by young birds to grow, to learn to feed, and to escape threats in the weeks before they can fly
• A 10-year term allows sufficient time for birds to re-occupy the site after a period of absence, if conditions become favourable (e.g. water-level changes)

Activities in American White Pelican habitat:

Activities in regulated habitat can continue as long as the function of these areas for the species is maintained and individuals of the species are not killed, harmed, or harassed.

Generally compatible:

• Recreational boating and fishing
• Tourism on the water from a distance that does not harass the birds

Generally not compatible^{footnote *[*]}:

• Activities on a nesting island that damages nests or disturbs birds
• Removal of vegetation and other natural features within regulated habitat
• Alteration of lake water levels that significantly impact an island’s surface area

Key terms:

• American White Pelican colony: A congregation of breeding pelicans (≥ two pairs) nesting in a discrete easily identified geographic area (e.g. an island).

Below you will find an example diagram of how this regulation would be applied to protect habitat for this species. It indicates how the protected habitat has been categorized, based on how the species uses the habitat and how much activity or change can occur within the habitat, as per the policy "Categorizing and Protecting Habitat Under the Endangered Species Act". This policy can be found at: /document/categorizing-and-protecting-habitat-under-endangered-species-act.

Sample application of the Habitat Regulation:

Figure 1. Sample application of the Habitat Regulation for American White Pelican.

Enlarge Figure 1. Sample application of the Habitat Regulation for American White Pelican.

The content of this summary is provided for convenience only. For accurate reference and the most recent version of the regulation, please view Ontario Regulation 832/21 on e-Laws