Pelican Island National Wildlife Refuge
Pelican Island National Wildlife Refuge is a United States National Wildlife Refuge (NWR), and part of the Everglades Headwaters NWR complex, located just off the western coast of North Hutchinson Island in the Indian River Lagoon east of Sebastian, Florida.The refuge consists of a 3-acre (12,000 m2) island that includes an additional 2.5 acres (10,000 m2) of surrounding water and is located off the east coast of Florida of the Indian River Lagoon.Established by an executive order of President Theodore Roosevelt on March 14, 1903, Pelican Island was the first National wildlife refuge in the United States.The American Ornithologists' Union and the Florida Audubon Society led a campaign to pass legislation for protection of non-game birds in 1901.Knowing that the protection of Pelican Island would require more legislation, Chapman and his fellow advocate, William Dutcher went to President Theodore Roosevelt at his home in New York.The Indian River Area Preservation League, formed by local citrus growers, commercial fishermen, and sportsmen, joined with Florida Audubon Society to convince the State to include the islands as a part of the refuge."Later in 1963, Pelican Island was designated as a National Historic Landmark by the Secretary of the Interior because of its status as the first federal area set aside specifically to protect wildlife.[7] Pelican Island National Wildlife Refuge was added to the list of wetlands of international importance under the Ramsar Convention signed in 1971.These runoffs will cause decline in water quality, and this can directly affect the food base that sustains the island's nesting bird colonies.Pelican Island has long, warm, and humid summers and short, mild winters and has an average rainfall of about 55 to 60 inches (140 to 150 cm) annually.[11] Pelican Island National Wildlife Refuge holds hundreds of species of animals including birds, fish, plants, and mammals.Fifteen federally listed threatened and endangered species live in Pelican Island NWR and around Indian River Lagoon.Traveling in the winter, look for lesser scaup, blue-winged teal, mottled ducks, great northern divers, laughing gulls, American white pelicans, and red-breasted mergansers.[12] New public facilities were opened and dedicated on March 14, 2003, in ceremonies marking the centennial of Pelican Island and the National Wildlife Refuge System.The new facilities include a 1/4 mile boardwalk and 18-foot (5.5 m) observation tower to view Pelican Island, two 2.5-mile (4.0 km) salt marsh impoundment foot trails, interpretive signs, informational kiosks, restrooms and parking areas.
IUCN categoryOrchid, FloridaRamsar WetlandU.S. National Register of Historic PlacesU.S. National Historic LandmarkIndian River CountyFloridaUnited StatesSebastian, FloridaNational Wildlife RefugeNorth Hutchinson IslandIndian River Lagoonexecutive orderPresidentTheodore Rooseveltegretsplume huntingArchie Carr NWRLake Wales Ridge NWREverglades Headwaters NWR and Conservation Areaconservation easementU.S. Department of the InteriorU.S. Fish and Wildlife Servicewere killedPaul KroegelGerman immigrantAmerican Museum of Natural HistoryFrank Chapmanrookeriesbrown pelicansAmerican Ornithologists' UnionAudubon SocietywetlandsNational Wilderness Preservation SystemArchie Carr National Wildlife Refugelist of wetlands of international importanceRamsar ConventionPleistoceneglacialHolocenesalt marshesmangrovesswampycarbon monoxidenitrogen dioxidesulfur dioxidePonce de LeonDaytona BeachWest Palm BeachcadmiummercuryseleniumthalliumMycteria americanaWest Indian manateessea turtleswood storkgreat egretssnowy egretsreddish egretsgreat blue heronlittle blue herontricolored heronblack-crowned night heronAmerican white ibisglossy ibisdouble-crested cormorantanhingaAmerican oystercatcherlesser scaupblue-winged tealmottled ducksgreat northern diverslaughing gullsAmerican white pelicansred-breasted mergansersroseate spoonbillsmagnificent frigatebirdsleast ternsJungle TrailFlorida State ParksIndian River County, FloridaList of National Wildlife RefugesHistory of the National Wildlife Refuge SystemRamsarWayback MachineTC PalmFlorida Fish and Wildlife Conservation CommissionAlachuaBradfordBrevardBrowardCalhounCharlotteCitrusCollierColumbiaDeSotoEscambiaFlaglerFranklinGadsdenGilchristGladesHamiltonHardeeHendryHernandoHighlandsHillsboroughHolmesIndian RiverJacksonJeffersonLibertyMadisonManateeMarionMartinMiami-DadeMonroeNassauOkaloosaOkeechobeeOrangeOsceola