EPOW - Ecology Picture of the Week

Brown Pelicans (Pelecanus occidentalis),
Puerto Peñasco, Sonora, Mexico

Explanation:  Enjoying the mild temperatures and abundant fish are these Brown Pelicans along the rocky shoreline of Puerto Peñasco in the upper Gulf of Mexico.  Pelicans congregate here during winter, as do many other birds.  During an Audubon Christmas Bird Count here, one could record over 140 species in a day, and the area as a whole boasts over 320 bird species.   

We are along the Sea of Cortez which itself is refuge to much wildlife, including numerous migratory birds, whales and other marine mammals, and gringo tourists.  

It may look funny, but the pelican's gular pouch likely is used not only to collect fish and fresh water but also to disperse body heat.  Pelicans are good examples of commensal organisms -- species that can survive well near human habitats, in this case near fishing ports where they scavenge for fish scraps discarded by fishermen.