White pelicans on Dassen Island
At Dassen Island, there are about 500 breeding pairs (Crawford et al.
1995b, C.N.C., unpub. data). Most white pelican breeding occurs on Boom
Point in the
northwest on the island. White pelicans usually breed on Dassen
Island from September until February, and are highly susceptible to
disturbance during this period. The size of the pelican colony
has increased
steadily.
From Dassen Island, the pelicans fly to the mainland to feed, but have
taken to
also eating the chicks of Kelp Gulls, Cape Cormorants (Phalocrocorax
capensis), Crowned Comorants (Phalocrocorax coronatus), Swift Terns
& African Penguins (this unneighbourly behaviour is impacting on
the breeding success of these species).