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Florida's aid to Louisiana Pelicans

The Brown Pelican is the state bird of Louisiana, but in the 1960s it became all but extinct there and around the gulf coast. Thanks though, to a unique program that transplanted young birds from Florida to Louisiana, the birds have come back strong there, with more than 16,000 nests counted in the last census. Tom Hess is a Louisiana state biologist...

Return of the Brown Pelican

Before the pesticide DDT was banned in the 1960s, Brown Pelicans were nearly extinct in the U.S., except for Florida. But now, other Gulf Coast states have seen the Brown Pelican Return, partly as a result of Florida birds sent to replenish populations. Tom Hess is a Louisiana state biologist...

Spreading the Brown Pelican

After nearly becoming extinct in the 1960s, the Brown Pelican is making a comeback. And Florida played an important role as scientists transplanted young birds from here to historic nesting grounds around the Gulf Coast. Though the decades long effort ended in the 1980s, Louisiana state biologist Tom Hess says the effects are still felt today...

Delisting the Brown Pelican

It's called "de-listing"--the removal of a species from the endangered species list. That's what some scientists are recommending for the Brown Pelican, almost extinct in the 1960s. Biologist Tom Hess monitors the birds' population in Louisiana...

Natural concerns for Brown Pelicans

While the number of Brown Pelicans in the U.S. is up markedly from the species' near extinction in the 1960s, threats remain. And while it was manmade pesticides that almost did the bird in before, biologist Tom Hess says natural threats still remain...