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Habitat change, mainly through the actions of humans, poses a threat to great white (Pelecanus onocrotalus) and pink-backed (P. rufescens) pelicans in northeastern KwaZulu-Natal, the southernmost distributions of these species on Africa's eastern seaboard. This study assessed the relative importance and state of the potential pelican habitat in the northeastern KwaZulu-Natal region, focusing particularly on Lake St Lucia and the Phongolo River floodplain. Great white pelicans breed on islands in Lake St Lucia. Should these islands be lost through falling water levels or their becoming joined to mainland by deposits of silt, or by flooding, no suitable habitat for their breeding will remain in the region. By contrast, the pink-backed pelican nests in trees, and there appears to be plentiful alternative habitat. Lake St Lucia and, to a lesser extent, the Phongolo River floodplain, are important foraging areas for both pelican species. The hydrology of both these systems has been affected by human activities. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The Great White Pelican Pelecanus onocrotalus and the Pink-backed Pelican P. rufescens are flagship species for the Greater St Lucia Wetland Park, north-eastern KwaZulu-Natal, South Africa. The traditional breeding sites for the Great White Pelican and the Pink-backed Pelican are confined to Lake St Lucia and Nsumo Pan, respectively. Considerable amounts of data have been collected since 1933 relating to the breeding efforts of these populations, and these data have been collected in a variety of ways. This study represents an attempt to collate and summarise these data and to make some estimations of the breeding success of the two pelican species in south-eastern Africa. Breeding attempts of Great White Pelican have been erratic and have had varied success. Although less erratic, only small numbers of the Pink backed Pelican have bred. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]