Presence Of The Peruvian Pelican Pelecanus Thagus In Seabird Colonies Of Chilean Patagonia

Over the past few years. an increase in Peruvian Pelican Pelecanus thagus presence has occurred in southern Chile, along the coast of the Los Lagos region. at the southern end of its range. We evaluate the presence of the pelicans in seabird colonies of this region and describe their behavior and interactions with other seabird species. Three colonies were surveyed: San Pedro Bay Islets (40 degrees 55'S), Kaikud-Lagartija Island (41 degrees 48'S) and Caicura Island (41 degrees 42'S). Counts were carried out from boats, and age structure was determined based on plumage color. Pelicans were found to be numerous and included a high proportion of juveniles. With the exception of one pelican egg (unhatched) found at Caicura Island in December 2013, there was no evidence of pelican nesting. Potential competitive interactions between the pelicans and other seabirds were evident.