And Now for Texas Wildlife---The Eastern Brown Pelican



Once plentiful along the Texas Gulf Coast, Eastern Brown Pelicans had almost entirely disappeared from Texas by 1960.  Their exposure to increased levels of the insecticide DDT in the fish they ate resulted in an inability to metabolize calcium correctly, resulting in eggs with paper thin shells that could not support the growth of chicks inside.  After DDT was banned in 1973, their numbers slowly began to increase.

Now, they just seem to be everywhere, perching on docks, piers, and bouys; flying in formation through the skies; and diving for fish in Galveston Bay and the Gulf of Mexico.  Stores and art galleries are full of paintings, photographs, and sculpture depicting them.  One of the towns in this area has adopted them as a mascot and installed decorated sculptures of penguins along its streets that bring to mind the art cars and art cows of other Texas cities.