Binational Network for Monitoring and Conservation of the Brown Pelican
About
The Binational Network for Monitoring and Conservation of the Brown Pelican was created on 13 May, 2019 during a virtual meeting. On 6 June, 2019, we held our first face-to-face meeting in Ensenada, Baja California. During this meeting, each monitoring group presented its work, and all agreed to develop two standardized protocols, one for reproductive season and one for post-reproductive season.
Mission
The Binational Network for Monitoring and Conservation of the Brown Pelican (Network) designs, implements, and evaluates collaborative research and monitoring efforts in the Pacific Ocean and Gulf of California, to improve conservation and management strategies and outcomes.
Goals and Objectives
The primary objective of the Network is to evaluate range-wide distribution and population trends of the California Brown Pelican (Pelicanus occidentalis californianus). Additional goals include:
- Build a dynamic binational network of Brown Pelican managers and researchers.
- Facilitate communications and coordination about Brown Pelican monitoring protocols, data collection and management, and research needs and outcomes.
- Understand connectivity among Brown Pelican colonies to guide conservation and management decisions.
- Maintain updated databases of number of breeding pairs, updated seasonally, to evaluate population trends.
- Share results to improve Brown Pelican conservation and management.
- Build capacities of all working group members.
- Build and maintain an online and open access platform with information about Brown Pelican populations.
Members
The Network consists of a diverse partnership of governmental and non-governmental organizations, as well as academic institutions, from Mexico and the United States including: National Commission of Natural Protected Areas (CONANP), National Commission for the Knowledge and Use of Biodiversity (CONABIO), Sonoran Joint Venture/U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service, Channel Islands National Park/National Park Service, Centro de Estudios Culturales y Ecológicos Prescott College, A.C., Grupo de Ecología y Conservación de Islas, A.C., Pronatura Noroeste, A.C., California Institute of Environmental Studies, American Bird Conservancy, National Audubon Society, Pacific Eco Logic, Centro de Investigación Científica y de Educación Superior de Ensenada, Universidad Veracruzana, Universidad de Guadalajara, University of California Davis.
To join the Binational Network for Monitoring and Conservation of the Brown Pelican or to learn more about this project, please contact: Yuliana Bedolla Guzmán (Mexico) or Adam Hannuksela (U.S.).
Resources
Brown Pelican Breeding Colony Monitoring Protocol
Post-reproductive protocol (coming soon)
The First meeting of the Binational Network for Monitoring and Conservation of the Brown Pelican in Ensenada, Mexico, 2019.
