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Australian Pelican (Pelecanus conspicillatus)

The Australian Pelican is a large, highly mobile waterbird found across Australian wetlands, waterways and coastal areas. It breeds in colonies, so clearing, construction, access, noise and water management near a breeding island or secluded wetland shore can affect many birds at once. It is listed as least concern nationally and is protected under wildlife legislation, with additional Queensland controls for tampering with breeding places of colonial breeders.

Conservation status

Queensland, Nature Conservation Act 1992: Colonial breeder. Least concern in Queensland, but it breeds in colonies, so tampering with a breeding place needs a high risk species management program rather than the low risk program.

Breeding season

Australian Pelicans can breed at any time of year. Breeding is strongly influenced by rainfall, water levels, food supply and the availability of secluded islands or shores, so timing varies between regions and years.

Breeding mode: Colonial ground nester. Pairs make a scrape, sometimes trampling vegetation to form a simple nest platform.

Breeding timing: Breeding can occur in any month. Large inland breeding events may follow flooding and improved food availability.

Clutch and incubation: Usually 2 to 3 eggs. Eggs are laid 2 to 3 days apart. Both parents incubate for 32 to 35 days.

Young: Chicks leave the nest and join crèches of up to 100 birds. They remain in crèches for about two months. Fledging age and age at maturity are not recorded.

Breeding places: Colonies are mainly on secluded beaches, low islands, lake and billabong islands, sandy shores and rocky islets. Australian Pelicans do not normally use tree hollows, caves or burrows for breeding.

Colonies and site use: Colonies can contain thousands of birds. Some breeding sites have been reused over many years, while others are temporary or shift between nearby islands and shores as water levels change. No standard nest density or species-specific disturbance distance is established.

Recognising an active breeding place: Look for courtship displays, adults carrying sticks or vegetation, fresh ground scrapes, eggs, chicks, defensive adults, repeated flights to one site and crèches of downy or partly feathered young. Avoid flushing birds from colonies. Because breeding can occur year round, plan works outside the active nesting period only where monitoring confirms the site is inactive. In Queensland, tampering with the breeding place of this least concern colonial breeder requires the high risk species management program pathway.

Breeding timing and colony location can change between years and regions, particularly after rainfall, flooding, falling water levels, rising salinity or changes in fish availability.

  • Breeding and courtship: Courtship and nesting may occur in any month, with activity responding to rainfall, water levels and food supply rather than a fixed season.
  • Eggs and incubation: Eggs may be present in any month when a colony is active, and incubation lasts about 32 to 35 days.
  • Chicks and crèches: Dependent chicks may occur in any month because colonies can start after suitable rainfall or flooding at different times of year.
  • Colony presence and movement: Pelicans are highly mobile and may gather in large numbers at inland wetlands, coastal sites, sandbanks and islands as water and food conditions change.
  • Colony disturbance risk: Disturbance risk is present year round because active colonies, eggs, chicks and crèches may occur in any month.
  • Highest clearing risk: Treat every month as a potential high risk period near a colony, and use pre works surveys, site specific exclusion buffers and supervised works rather than relying on a seasonal shutdown.

Identification: Appearance and size

The Australian Pelican is a very large black and white waterbird with a long, pale bill and a large throat pouch. It is usually conspicuous in open water, on sandbanks or on low islands.

Adults are mainly white, with black on the wings and tail. They have short grey legs, webbed feet and a long bill with a hooked tip.

The bill is usually pale pink. During courtship, the bill and pouch become brighter, with salmon pink, yellow and blue tones. These colours fade after the breeding display.

  • Wingspan up to 2.5 to 3 m.
  • Bill length about 40 to 50 cm, with males generally having the larger bill.
  • Throat pouch can hold up to 13 litres of water, although it is mainly used to catch fish.
  • Juveniles have more brown in areas that are black in adults.

Identification: Calls and similar species

The Australian Pelican is generally identified by its size, black and white plumage and large pouched bill. It is unlikely to be confused with another Australian waterbird at close range.

Courtship or threat displays may include bill clapping and a low, repeated vocalisation described as 'orrh-orrh-orrha'.

  • Do not rely on calls alone for identification.
  • Check the black wing pattern, very large bill and pink pouch when birds are at a distance.

Identification: Field signs

Look for large white droppings and whitewash on regularly used roosts, islands, rocks, sandbanks and structures near water. Accumulated droppings can stain rocks, bare ground and low vegetation.

Breeding areas may show many shallow ground scrapes, trampled vegetation, eggshell fragments, feathers and concentrations of adults and chicks. A colony may have a strong wetland or fish odour, particularly where many birds and droppings are concentrated.

  • Large footprints and webbed tracks on mud or sand.
  • Feathers and down around nest scrapes and roosts.
  • Repeated flight paths between a colony, roost and feeding areas.
  • Groups of chicks moving together in a creche.

Distribution: Australian range

The Australian Pelican occurs throughout Australia and uses both inland and coastal wetlands. Its movements are flexible and can change quickly when water levels, rainfall or food supplies change.

The species is mapped in New South Wales, the Northern Territory, Queensland, South Australia, Tasmania, Victoria and Western Australia. It occurs in mainland Australia and Tasmania, except for the western deserts where suitable water is absent.

It is widespread in rivers, lakes, swamps, estuaries, coastal bays, islands and open wetlands. Inland birds may gather at flooded salt lakes after monsoonal or seasonal rain.

  • Coastal and estuarine wetlands.
  • Large inland lakes, billabongs and river systems.
  • Irrigation and riverine wetlands in northern Victoria.
  • Open saline and brackish wetlands in southern Australia.
  • Northern Western Australia from Shark Bay to the east Kimberley, as well as sites near Albany and in the Peel Harvey Estuary.

Distribution: Breeding distribution

Breeding colonies have been recorded in all Australian states and territories, including the Northern Territory, although one historical review did not document breeding there. Colonies are patchy and may appear or disappear as conditions change.

Important breeding regions include coastal and inland South Australia, Victoria, Bass Strait islands, Western Australia, and large wetland systems in eastern Australia.

  • Coorong islands and other South Australian wetlands.
  • Coastal lakes, embayments and large wetlands in Victoria.
  • Small islands in the Peel Harvey Estuary and other Western Australian waters.
  • Flooded inland salt lakes and open freshwater wetlands after substantial rainfall.

Distribution: Movement beyond Australia

The species also occurs in New Guinea and western Indonesia. It has been recorded as a straggler in New Zealand, Fiji and some western Pacific islands.

Banding records show movement between Australian states and as far as Papua New Guinea. There is no regular month by month migration schedule.

  • Treat any suitable wetland as potentially usable by pelicans.
  • Do not assume that a site with no birds during one inspection is unimportant.

Habitat: Wetland types

Australian Pelicans favour large, open wetlands with nearby shallow water and safe areas for resting or breeding. On a works site, assess both the waterbody and the connected shoreline, islands, sandbanks and access routes.

Suitable habitat includes freshwater, brackish and saline wetlands. The species uses lakes, swamps, rivers, estuaries, coastal bays, lagoons, salt lakes and billabongs.

Large open wetlands with little dense aquatic vegetation are commonly used. Productive shallow water is particularly valuable because it supports fish and other aquatic prey.

  • Permanent and semi permanent freshwater wetlands.
  • Permanent and semi permanent saline wetlands.
  • Coastal lagoons, embayments and estuaries.
  • Flooded salt lakes and temporary inland wetlands.

Habitat: Features to check on site

Map all open water, shallow margins and potential islands before works begin. Low sandy islands, exposed reefs, rocky islets and isolated lake margins may be used for resting or nesting.

Also check apparently minor features such as sandbars, mudflats, reed edges and trampled vegetation. These can provide access to feeding or roosting areas.

  • Small, low islands separated from the mainland.
  • Sandy banks, sandbars and exposed mudflats.
  • Rock platforms, reefs and shallow shorelines.
  • Open water near fish habitat, channels or wetland inflows.

Habitat: Water and landscape context

Water levels strongly influence habitat use. Falling water may expose nesting islands and feeding shallows, while high water can flood nests and reduce available land.

A colony may shift between nearby islands or shores as water levels, salinity, food supplies and disturbance change. Assess the wider wetland rather than only the proposed work footprint.

  • Record current and recent water levels where possible.
  • Check whether temporary works could drain, flood or isolate an island or shoreline.
  • Consider changes to fish habitat caused by altered flows, salinity or water quality.

Foraging habitat: Foraging areas

The Australian Pelican feeds mainly in open water and shallow wetland margins. It may forage alone or in groups, and can travel long distances from a roost or colony to reach reliable food.

Look for pelicans on lakes, rivers, estuaries, coastal bays, lagoons, channels and shallow wetland edges. Inland salt lakes can become important feeding areas after flooding.

The species needs a dependable food supply for successful breeding. Fish availability is particularly relevant, although crustaceans and other aquatic prey may also be taken.

  • Shallow open water where fish can be concentrated.
  • Wetland channels, inlets and productive margins.
  • Flooded salt lakes and temporary waterbodies after rain.
  • Coastal waters, boat ramps and estuarine areas where fish are available.

Foraging habitat: Feeding behaviour

Pelicans dip or plunge the bill into water and then lift the head to swallow the catch. Groups may herd fish into shallow water or surround them in a tightening circle.

They may feed from a work area, stockpile, discharge point or access route even when the main wetland is outside the project boundary.

  • Single birds feeding with repeated bill dips.
  • Cooperative groups moving in lines or circles.
  • Birds concentrating around fish kills, fish releases or disturbed water.
  • Repeated flights between feeding water and a colony or roost.

Foraging habitat: Works site considerations

Avoid creating sudden barriers between open water and feeding areas. Manage sediment, contaminated runoff, fish mortality and changes to water levels before works start.

Noise, vessels and machinery can displace birds from shallow feeding areas. Check for repeated use over several visits, including early and late in the day.

  • Keep spoil, fuel, concrete washout and dirty water away from wetlands.
  • Prevent fish stranding in temporary drains, cofferdams and dewatered areas.
  • Maintain safe access for birds between feeding water and nearby roosts.
  • Use a fauna spotter catcher to respond to injured or trapped birds.

Breeding habitat: Nest and colony setting

Australian Pelicans are colonial ground nesters. They usually breed on secluded islands or shores in large open wetlands, where isolation from people and terrestrial predators provides protection.

A nest is usually a shallow scrape on bare ground. It may be lined with vegetation, feathers or other nearby material. Pairs may also trample low vegetation into a simple platform.

Breeding places may be on sandy islands, low limestone islands, beaches near rocky islets, lake islands, secluded shores or isolated wetland banks.

  • Offshore islands and small islands in lakes or billabongs.
  • Secluded sandy beaches and sandbanks.
  • Low rocky islets, reefs and raised wetland margins.
  • Open shores with sparse vegetation and nearby shallow water.

Breeding habitat: Breeding timing and young

Breeding can occur at any time of year. Rainfall, flooding, water levels and food availability often determine when breeding starts and whether it succeeds.

Females may be followed by several males during courtship. Displays include bill clapping, pouch rippling, pouch swinging and throwing small objects into the air.

  • Usually 2 to 3 eggs are laid.
  • Both adults incubate the eggs for about 32 to 35 days.
  • Chicks may leave the nest and join a creche of up to 100 birds.
  • Chicks can remain in the creche for about two months.

Breeding habitat: Recognising an active breeding place

An active colony may contain adults sitting low on nests, adults displaying, eggs, small pink chicks, downy chicks or larger chicks moving into a creche. Birds may repeatedly fly to and from the same island or shore.

Do not enter an apparently empty colony without checking carefully. Eggs and small chicks can be difficult to see from the water or from the mainland.

  • Multiple ground scrapes or nest platforms close together.
  • Eggshell fragments, feathers, down and trampled ground.
  • Adults sitting tightly on nests or defending nest areas.
  • Pinkies, downy chicks or a group of mobile juveniles.
  • Concentrated droppings and regular flight paths.

Breeding habitat: Water management and breeding success

Flooding can wash out nests, eggs and small chicks. Lower water levels can expose islands and create feeding shallows, but excessive drawdown may also reduce food supplies or allow predators and people to reach a colony.

Plan dewatering, releases, dredging, bank works and access changes around the whole breeding wetland. A change at one location may affect an island or colony elsewhere.

  • Record water levels and recent flooding before works.
  • Avoid sudden water level changes near an active colony.
  • Retain safe separation between islands and the mainland where isolation protects nests.
  • Review water management if adults repeatedly flush, nests become flooded or predators gain access.

Sheltering habitat: Roost features

Pelicans roost in exposed places close to water rather than in enclosed shelters. Roosts can be used by many birds and may be associated with a breeding colony or a regular feeding area.

Common roost features include sandbanks, rock platforms, reefs, islands, shallow margins and bare wetland shores. Pelicans may also stand or rest on trampled reeds and grasses.

Roosts are often open and easy to see, but they can be overlooked when birds are feeding elsewhere. Check likely sites during morning and late afternoon when resting and preening activity may increase.

  • Bare or sparsely vegetated island tops.
  • Sandbanks and exposed mud or limestone.
  • Rock platforms, reefs and shallow banks.
  • Trampled reedbeds and grassy wetland edges.

Sheltering habitat: Roost signs

Regular roosts may have concentrated whitewash, feathers, footprints and worn or flattened vegetation. Repeated flight paths and birds returning to the same site are useful indicators.

A roost can be important even when there are no nests. It may provide a staging area between feeding grounds and a breeding colony.

  • White staining on rock, soil or vegetation.
  • Large webbed footprints in wet sand or mud.
  • Flattened reeds, grass or saltmarsh plants.
  • Groups of birds resting with bills placed on their backs.

Sheltering habitat: Protection during works

Avoid placing plant, access tracks, lighting, barges or noisy activities beside a regularly used roost. Repeated flushing can make birds abandon a site and use less suitable habitat.

There is no single suitable disturbance distance for every pelican roost. Set a site specific buffer after considering the number of birds, visibility, cover, approach route, noise, vessel movement and whether breeding is occurring nearby.

  • Keep works outside the roost when birds are present.
  • Use existing access routes and screen unavoidable activity where practical.
  • Stop and seek ecological advice if birds repeatedly flush or circle without landing.
  • Do not remove roost islands, sandbanks or low shoreline vegetation without assessment.

Colonies and breeding places: What a colony or maternity roost looks like

A pelican colony is a group of breeding pairs nesting close together, often on an island or secluded wetland shore. Colonies need special care because one disturbance event can affect eggs, chicks and many breeding adults at the same time.

Colonies may look like a dense group of large white birds on bare ground, sand, low vegetation or a small island. Nest density can be high, and adults may sit among scrapes while chicks gather in creches.

A maternity roost is not a separate structure for this species. Pelican chicks use ground based creches near the nesting colony, while adults and young may also rest on nearby islands, banks or reed edges.

  • Large numbers of adults gathered on a secluded island or shore.
  • Closely spaced nest scrapes, trampled vegetation and droppings.
  • Pink or downy chicks near nests.
  • Larger chicks moving together in a creche.
  • Regular movements between colony, roost and feeding water.

Colonies and breeding places: Colony size and site fidelity

Colonies may contain thousands of pelicans, although smaller colonies also occur. Chicks can form groups of up to 100 birds.

Some breeding sites are used repeatedly for many years. Others are used only during particular water and food conditions. Colonies may move between nearby islands or stop breeding when flooding, salinity, food shortage, predators or disturbance make a site unsuitable.

  • Treat historical breeding sites as potentially active again.
  • Do not rely on one negative inspection.
  • Check nearby islands, sandbanks and secluded shores if birds are present in the wider wetland.
  • Record the location and apparent size of any colony for future planning.

Colonies and breeding places: Disturbance, flushing and buffers

Approaching on foot, by boat, vehicle or aircraft can flush adults from nests. Eggs and small chicks may then be exposed to heat, cold, predators, flooding or trampling. Repeated disturbance can cause abandonment.

Use a conservative, site specific buffer around an active colony. A fixed distance cannot be set without considering terrain, line of sight, noise, access, water movement and the birds' response.

  • Keep works, access and noisy activity outside the buffer wherever possible.
  • Avoid entering islands, sandbanks or secluded shores during nesting.
  • Keep vessels and barges away from the colony and avoid repeated passes.
  • Use spotters to monitor flushing, circling, alarm displays and failed returns to nests.
  • Schedule unavoidable works outside the active nesting period where practicable.

Colonies and breeding places: Colonial bird management and Queensland requirements

Colonial birds may also breed in wetland trees, lignum, reedbeds, islands, sandbanks, riverbanks, cliffs, culverts, bridges or caves, depending on the species. Australian Pelicans mainly use ground sites on islands and secluded shores, rather than hollows, caves or structures.

In Queensland, tampering with the breeding place of a least concern colonial breeder requires a high risk species management program under the Nature Conservation (Animals) Regulation 2020. This is different from the low risk program used for other least concern animals.

  • Confirm whether a proposed action will disturb, damage, isolate or remove a breeding place.
  • Seek advice from the relevant Queensland regulator before entering or modifying an active colony.
  • Keep clearing, piling, dredging, construction and water level changes outside the nesting period where possible.
  • Apply buffers around active colonies and review them if birds flush.
  • Coordinate water management, access control, predator management and rehabilitation.

Threats: Clearing and habitat loss

The Australian Pelican is listed as least concern, but local colonies and roosts can be sensitive to disturbance and habitat change. Development impacts are often local and may affect breeding success before any population decline is obvious.

Loss of islands, sandbanks, open wetland margins and shallow feeding areas can remove breeding, roosting and foraging habitat. Filling, reclamation, bank modification and access tracks can reduce the separation that protects colonies from people and predators.

Avoid clearing low wetland vegetation or altering landforms near a colony until the area has been assessed.

  • Removal of nesting islands or exposed sandbanks.
  • Loss of open shoreline and shallow feeding margins.
  • Isolation of wetlands from rivers, estuaries or fish habitat.
  • Conversion of wetland edges to roads, hardstand or infrastructure.

Threats: Disturbance and flushing

People, machinery, vehicles, vessels, aircraft, lighting, dogs and repeated noise can cause adults to leave nests or roosts. Disturbance near a colony is more serious than disturbance to a few feeding birds because many nests may be affected together.

Control access and keep works outside the nesting period where practical. Stop and reassess if birds repeatedly flush, circle or fail to return to nests.

  • Boat traffic through narrow channels beside colonies.
  • Unplanned landing on islands or sandbanks.
  • Night lighting directed at nesting or roosting areas.
  • Unscreened piling, blasting, dredging or high noise activities.

Threats: Water levels, food and water quality

Flooding can wash out nests and eggs. Drawdown can expose colonies to predators and people, while changes to flow or salinity can reduce fish and other prey.

Sediment, pollutants, fish kills, blocked channels and poor water quality can reduce feeding opportunities or injure birds.

  • Plan dewatering and releases around active nests.
  • Maintain fish passage and suitable shallow feeding areas where feasible.
  • Prevent dirty water, fuel, chemicals and concrete washout from entering wetlands.
  • Investigate fish deaths or unusual concentrations of sick birds promptly.

Threats: Predators, fishing and disease

Predator access can increase when water levels fall or islands become connected to the mainland. Dogs, foxes, cats and people may reach colonies that were previously isolated.

Pelicans can be injured by fishing hooks, line and other gear. Disease, including highly pathogenic avian influenza, can also affect congregations of waterbirds.

  • Maintain island separation where it protects an active colony.
  • Remove or secure fishing line and hooks from work areas.
  • Do not handle sick or dead birds without appropriate advice and protective measures.
  • Report unusual mortality or clusters of sick birds through the relevant wildlife authority.

Survey methodology: 1. Desktop assessment

Survey Australian Pelicans across the full wetland and shoreline, not just the proposed clearing area. The species is highly mobile, but breeding colonies can concentrate many birds and require a targeted assessment.

Map lakes, rivers, estuaries, swamps, billabongs, salt lakes, coastal islands, sandbanks and secluded shorelines.

Review recent aerial imagery and wetland water levels. Identify small islands, exposed banks, reedbeds, lignum, saltmarsh and other places where ground nests or roosts may occur.

Check historical breeding records, local wildlife reports and records from landholders, wetland managers and Traditional Owners. Pelicans may return to former sites, but colonies can also shift when water, food or access conditions change.

  • Treat any island or isolated bank in a large open wetland as potential breeding habitat.
  • Identify nearby fish habitat, shallow feeding areas, boat ramps, fishing areas and other places where birds may congregate.
  • Check whether the project could affect other protected matters under the Environment Protection and Biodiversity Conservation Act 1999. The Australian Pelican is not listed under that Act, but a referral may still be required for another matter.

Survey methodology: 2. Field detection

Survey from the shoreline, elevated vantage points and, where safe and authorised, by boat. Use binoculars or a telescope to inspect islands, sandbanks and secluded shores without approaching the birds.

Search for large groups standing, sitting or roosting on islands, sandy banks, rock platforms, reefs, shallow water, trampled reeds and grasses. Check open ground for scrapes lined with vegetation or feathers.

Look for courtship behaviour, including bill clapping, pouch rippling, pouch swinging, throwing and catching objects, strutting, threat displays and groups of males following a female.

Search for chicks away from nests. Chicks may form crèches of up to 100 birds. Pink, naked chicks, down covered chicks and nearly fledged brown juveniles indicate recent or current breeding activity.

  • Survey during daylight, when birds forage, travel and display. Include morning and middle of day observations, when foraging may be more apparent, and late afternoon observations, when roosting may increase.
  • Repeat surveys where water levels, rainfall or access conditions change. Breeding may occur at any time of year and is strongly influenced by environmental conditions.
  • Keep observers, vehicles, boats, drones and machinery well away from birds. Use the smallest practical team and stop if birds become alert, gather tightly, walk away from nests or take flight.

Survey methodology: 3. Survey effort and conditions

Match survey effort to the scale of the wetland, the number of potential islands and the likely disturbance pathway. A single shoreline inspection is not sufficient where islands or secluded breeding areas cannot be seen clearly.

Survey after rainfall or flooding where this creates new wetlands or exposes suitable islands and sandbanks. Recheck sites as water levels fall, because nesting islands can become connected to shore or accessible to predators and people.

Where access is restricted, use remote observation from land or boat. Do not land on an island or enter a colony to improve the survey.

  • Record survey dates, start and finish times, weather, visibility, rainfall history, water level, access route and surveyors.
  • Record every observation with coordinates, habitat type, number of adults, chicks and juveniles, behaviour, flight responses, nests, eggs, scrapes, tracks and signs of disturbance.
  • Map the colony, associated roosts, access routes, feeding areas and proposed work area. Photograph from a distance, without using flash or approaching birds.

Survey methodology: 4. Decide whether a breeding place is active

Treat a site as active when adults are displaying, defending ground, sitting on nests, carrying nesting material, attending eggs or chicks, or when chicks are present. Fresh scrapes, white eggs, down, feathers, droppings concentrated around nests and repeated adult attendance also support an active breeding place finding.

A colony may be a group of ground nests on an island, beach or secluded bank. It may contain scattered nests or dense nesting, and adults may roost around the nesting area. The presence of a large roost alone does not prove breeding, but it warrants a careful assessment.

Pelicans have used sites repeatedly in some coastal areas, while inland breeding can occur as a large event and then cease. Do not assume that an apparently unused historical site is available for works without checking current conditions.

  • If breeding status is uncertain, manage the site as active until an appropriately qualified ecologist and the relevant authority agree otherwise.
  • Record the outer edge of nests, chicks, adults showing breeding behaviour and associated access points.
  • Define a site specific no entry area and disturbance buffer before work is planned. Do not apply a generic distance where it has not been assessed for the colony, terrain, water conditions and machinery.

Before habitat disturbance: 1. Avoidance and design

Avoid colonies, breeding places and important roosts wherever practicable. Plan works around the birds, water levels and access conditions, rather than relying on relocation after disturbance has started.

Redesign clearing, access tracks, laydown areas, lighting, piling, dredging and boat movements to retain islands, secluded shores, shallow water, sandbanks and shoreline vegetation used by pelicans.

Keep works outside the colony and its site specific disturbance buffer. Include flight paths, landing areas, nearby roosts and regular feeding areas where noise, lighting or people could affect the birds.

Do not isolate an island, drain a wetland or alter a water connection without assessing the effect on nesting, access, flooding, fish availability and predator access. Flooding can destroy nests, while falling water can expose colonies to people and predators.

  • Use existing disturbed access routes where possible.
  • Keep high noise, vibration, night lighting and vessel movements away from active colonies.
  • Schedule works for a period when an ecologist has confirmed that no active breeding place will be affected. Do not assume a winter or summer restriction will suit every site, because breeding can occur at any time.

Before habitat disturbance: 2. Approvals, permits and advice

Obtain written ecological advice and all required approvals before disturbing a colony, breeding place or protected animal. Confirm requirements with the relevant state or territory agency and the land manager.

In Queensland, tampering with the breeding place of a least concern colonial breeder requires the high risk species management program pathway under the Nature Conservation (Animals) Regulation 2020. The lower risk pathway used for other least concern animals is not sufficient for this situation.

Check state wildlife, clearing, waterway, marine park, reserve, fisheries, biosecurity and animal welfare requirements. Confirm whether a permit is needed for capture, handling, rehabilitation, relocation, nest disturbance or work in protected areas.

Consider an EPBC referral where the action may affect another matter protected under the Environment Protection and Biodiversity Conservation Act 1999. The Australian Pelican is not an EPBC listed threatened species.

  • Do not start work on the basis of a verbal assumption that a colony is unoccupied.
  • Include approval conditions, maps, buffers, timing restrictions, stop work triggers and reporting duties in the site environmental plan.
  • Nominate the ecologist, wildlife authority and wildlife carer who will make decisions if a bird or breeding place is found.

Before habitat disturbance: 3. Pre clearance survey and exclusion

Complete a pre clearance inspection close to the start of works and after any major change in water level, flooding, rainfall or site use. Inspect all islands, banks, reedbeds, lignum, culverts, bridges, cliffs, caves and other structures that could be used by waterbirds, even though Australian Pelicans usually nest on open ground.

Mark the colony, nests, chicks, roosts, approach routes and no go areas on plans and in the field. Use visible signs, fencing or buoys that do not attract people towards the birds.

Do not use exclusion fencing to trap birds or cut off access to water. If exclusion is proposed, have it designed and checked by an appropriately qualified ecologist.

  • Complete the induction before any worker, boat operator or subcontractor enters the work area.
  • Explain the species identification, breeding signs, colony sensitivity, no go areas, speed limits, lighting controls and stop work procedure.
  • Brief workers that a large roost can be associated with a nearby colony that is not visible from the work area.

Before habitat disturbance: 4. Colony protection plan

Prepare a colony protection plan for any active or potentially active site. Include a map, buffer, access controls, approved work hours, noise and lighting controls, water management limits, inspection schedule and emergency contacts.

Keep people, vehicles, dogs, boats and machinery outside the approved buffer. Use remote cameras or observation from a distant vantage point where ongoing checks are needed.

Where works must occur near a colony, have the ecologist and relevant authority set the buffer and conditions from the colony layout, terrain, line of sight, machinery, noise, flight paths and flushing risk.

  • Keep works outside the nesting period only where local monitoring has confirmed a suitable period. Do not rely on a general seasonal rule.
  • Avoid repeated approaches, sudden movements, aircraft overflight and low boats near the colony.
  • Stop and reassess if adults flush, abandon nests, circle repeatedly, call continuously, bunch at the water edge or prevent chicks from returning to nests.

During habitat disturbance: 1. Sequential clearing and supervision

Use a staged, supervised work method. The spotter catcher or fauna ecologist must have authority to stop work immediately when a bird, breeding place, colony or unexpected hazard is found.

Clear in small, defined stages from the least sensitive edge towards the retained habitat. Complete a pre start inspection of each stage on the day of work.

Maintain the approved colony buffer and keep machinery, people and boats out of retained roosts, islands and nesting areas.

Use a fauna spotter catcher or suitably qualified ecologist where the approval, risk assessment or habitat requires one. Give that person direct communication with the site supervisor and authority to stop all relevant work.

  • Stop work before entering any area where visibility is poor or where an animal could be concealed.
  • Check excavations, pipes, culverts, stockpiles, temporary dams, silt fences and open trenches at the start and end of each shift.
  • Cover or ramp hazards where practicable, and remove materials that could trap birds.

During habitat disturbance: 2. Response to a colony or breeding place

If an active colony, nest, egg, chick, breeding adult or occupied roost is found, stop work and withdraw people and machinery without approaching the birds.

Set a temporary exclusion area from a distant position. Prevent access by workers, vehicles, boats, dogs and the public while the ecologist contacts the project manager and relevant authority.

Do not move nests, eggs, chicks, adults or nesting material. Do not drain, fill, grade, burn, mow or clear the breeding place.

Pelicans nest on the ground and may be difficult to detect in open sand, bare soil or trampled vegetation. Check the ground carefully before any work resumes.

  • Record the location, number of birds, life stages, behaviour, nest condition, water level and immediate threat.
  • Have the ecologist assess whether the work can be redesigned, deferred or completed under an approved management program.
  • Resume only after the required authority, permit holder and qualified ecologist have approved the controls and the crew has been re briefed.

During habitat disturbance: 3. Handling, injury and welfare

Handle an Australian Pelican only when authorised under the relevant approval and when handling is necessary to prevent immediate harm or provide veterinary care. The large bill and pouch can cause injury, and restraint requires trained personnel.

Keep people back from an injured bird. Reduce noise, remove hazards if safe, and contact the nominated wildlife carer, veterinarian or wildlife authority.

Do not feed, water, chase, release or relocate the bird unless directed by a veterinarian, wildlife authority or authorised wildlife carer.

  • Use an approved wildlife rescue container and transport method appropriate for a very large waterbird.
  • Record the bird's location, condition, visible injuries, time found, photographs, actions taken and receiving carer or veterinarian.
  • If a bird has contact with contaminated water, chemicals, oil, fishing line or other pollutants, follow the project pollution response and seek specialist advice immediately.

During habitat disturbance: 4. Daily records and stop work events

Keep a daily fauna register for all inspections, observations, incidents, handling, releases, complaints and changes to colony status.

Record start and finish times, weather, water conditions, work stage, machinery, noise controls, numbers of birds, flushing events and any breach of the buffer.

Report any unauthorised disturbance, nest damage, egg or chick injury, bird death, failed exclusion, pollution event or colony abandonment through the approval and incident reporting pathway.

  • Use the same map and naming system throughout the project.
  • Photograph signs, barriers, access points and incidents from a safe distance.
  • Hold a toolbox review after every stop work event and before work recommences.

After habitat disturbance: 1. Post clearance inspection

Finish each work stage with a fauna and habitat check. Follow up promptly where birds were displaced, a colony was nearby, or water and access conditions changed during the works.

Inspect the completed work area, retained habitat, exclusion boundary and nearby water edge after each clearing stage. Look for injured birds, trapped animals, damaged nests, eggs, chicks and new access routes to the colony.

Check trenches, pits, culverts, pipes, temporary fencing, sediment controls and stockpiles before they are closed, removed or left unattended.

Confirm that construction lighting, noise, dust, spoil, wash water and vehicle access have not spread into the colony, roost or feeding area.

  • Complete a final walkover at the end of each shift while the site remains under construction.
  • Remove temporary hazards and restore safe access to water where this is part of the approved design.
  • Escalate any dead, injured, missing or distressed bird to the nominated wildlife contact and authority.

After habitat disturbance: 2. Monitoring and reporting

Monitor active or recently used colonies at a distance and at a frequency set by the approval and ecological risk assessment. Use the same observation points where possible so results can be compared.

Track adult attendance, nest numbers, eggs or chicks where visible, crèche formation, fledging, roost use, flushing, water level, predator access and human disturbance.

Report results to the project manager, land manager and relevant authority as required. Include maps, photographs, survey effort, incidents, corrective actions and any recommendation to change the work method.

  • Continue monitoring after major rainfall, flooding, water drawdown, construction noise changes or opening of public access.
  • Use remote cameras only where their installation will not disturb the colony.
  • Do not enter the colony to count nests or chicks unless specifically authorised and assessed as safe.

After habitat disturbance: 3. Relocated or rescued animals

Confirm the outcome for every animal that was captured, treated or moved. Record the authority, carer or veterinarian responsible, the release decision and the release location.

Release a recovered bird only on advice from the treating veterinarian or authorised wildlife professional. Choose a suitable wetland with safe access to water and no active construction threat.

Do not release a bird into an active colony or roost without advice on disease risk, social behaviour, access and the likelihood of causing further disturbance.

  • Maintain chain of custody and veterinary records where required.
  • Check the release area for roads, powerlines, dogs, fishing gear, predators and contaminated water.
  • Report unsuccessful rehabilitation, death in care or repeat rescue events through the relevant authority.

After habitat disturbance: 4. Incident review and close out

Review every stop work event, colony disturbance, injury, nest loss, buffer breach and unexpected change in bird numbers. Ask whether the survey, design, induction or supervision failed to identify the risk.

Update the site environmental plan and colony map before the next work stage. Share the corrective actions with supervisors, operators, subcontractors and spotter catchers.

Close out the fauna condition only when required monitoring, rehabilitation, reporting and approval conditions are complete.

  • Retain survey data, permits, approvals, photographs, incident forms and monitoring results in the project record.
  • Record lessons for future work at the site, especially where water levels or colony location changed.
  • Notify the land manager of any site that appears to have ongoing breeding or roost value.

Rehabilitation actions: 1. Restore wetland habitat

Restore the wetland functions that support feeding, roosting and breeding. For this ground nesting species, a safe island, bank or secluded shore is usually more useful than a manufactured nest structure.

Reinstate natural wetland contours, shallow water, islands, sandbanks, secluded shorelines and safe access to feeding areas where these were disturbed.

Use local native wetland plants suited to the salinity, flooding regime and soil. Retain open areas where pelicans can land, walk and make ground scrapes.

Manage water levels carefully. Avoid rapid flooding of nests, prolonged isolation of feeding areas, or drawdown that connects a nesting island to shore and allows people, dogs or predators to enter.

  • Remove spoil, rubbish, fencing and temporary access tracks from retained wetland habitat.
  • Control erosion and sediment without narrowing feeding shallows or blocking wetland connections.
  • Coordinate water management with the land manager, wetland authority and ecological monitoring program.

Rehabilitation actions: 2. Nest and roost structures

Do not install nest boxes or bat boxes for Australian Pelicans. The species normally nests on the ground, often on islands, beaches or secluded wetland shores.

Where natural breeding habitat cannot be restored, consider an artificial nest site only after a site specific design by a waterbird ecologist and approval from the relevant authority. A suitable design may involve a predator resistant island, raised ground platform or protected open nesting area rather than a box.

Retain safe roosting features such as sandbanks, rock platforms, reefs, shallow margins, islands and trampled reed or grass areas where these do not create a conflict with erosion or public safety.

  • Design any artificial site to avoid flooding, land based predators, public access, boat traffic and disturbance.
  • Do not place a structure near an active colony without a staged plan and specialist approval.
  • Monitor use, flooding, erosion, predator access and disturbance before deciding whether the structure is successful.

Rehabilitation actions: 3. Weeds, predators and access

Control invasive plants where they reduce open nesting ground, block wetland access or alter the island structure. Retain suitable native cover and avoid clearing during an active breeding event.

Manage foxes, dogs, cats, rats, pigs and other predators under an approved pest plan. Do not use control methods that expose birds, eggs or chicks to additional risk.

Limit public access to breeding islands and secluded shores. Use signs, fencing, gates, moorings and patrols where these reduce disturbance without directing people towards the colony.

  • Inspect islands and banks for new predator tracks, bridges, low tide access and unauthorised landings.
  • Remove fishing line, hooks and other entanglement hazards from public access areas using safe handling procedures.
  • Control weeds and pests outside sensitive breeding periods where timing restrictions apply.

Rehabilitation actions: 4. Lighting, water quality and long term monitoring

Keep artificial light away from colonies, roosts, flight paths and wetland margins. Use the lowest practical intensity, shield lights, direct them away from water and switch them off when not required.

Prevent oil, chemicals, concrete washout, sediment and litter entering feeding or breeding wetlands. Maintain fish habitat and water quality through the full rehabilitation period.

Monitor restored sites for bird use, water levels, fish availability, nest attempts, breeding success, roosting, disturbance and predator access.

  • Set monitoring milestones in the rehabilitation plan and continue long enough to cover changing rainfall and water conditions.
  • Use consistent counts and mapped observation points, with no entry into active colonies unless authorised.
  • Adapt planting, water management, access controls and predator management when monitoring shows poor habitat use or repeated disturbance.

Rehabilitation actions: 5. Handover and maintenance

Give the land manager a final map of retained habitat, artificial sites, access controls, water infrastructure, weed areas, predator controls and monitoring points.

Provide maintenance instructions for fences, signs, lighting, drainage, erosion controls and any artificial island or platform.

Keep the colony protection measures in the operational environmental plan where a site has continuing breeding or roost value.

  • Nominate who will inspect the site after floods, storms, water drawdown and reports of nesting.
  • Record new colonies and breeding places with the relevant authority and land manager.
  • Review the management plan when pelicans change nesting location or when construction, recreation or water management changes.

Sources