Satellite tracking of migratory and ranging behavior of immature Great White Pelicans

Because migration routes and stopover sites of the endangered Palearctic migratory Great White Pelican (Pelecanus onocrotalus) are poorly known, satellite tracking was used to map spring and autumn migration routes, stopover sites and ranging areas in Europe, Israel and Africa. Four immature and one adult individual were equipped with transmitters in Israel. Three of these pelicans did not migrate from Israel during the tracking period. One immature male pelican accomplished two spring migrations to Europe and an autumn migration back to Israel, where it over-wintered. Its northward routes passed through Lebanon, Syria, Turkey and Bulgaria and it arrived at the River Danube after three weeks. This individual's vast ranging areas in Europe during two consecutive summers included the Aegean Sea, Bulgaria, Greece and Romania, but excluded the Danube River breeding colony. One individual continued its migration to Africa. It reached the Sudd area in southern Sudan after two stops at Lake Nasser and in Jebel Aulia Dam on the White Nile. Its range in Africa included the Sudd, Lake Roseires on the Blue Nile, the lakes of the Ethiopian Great Valley and Lake Rudolf in Kenya. Although this information was obtained from a small number of individuals it is an essential addition to the body of knowledge required in order to establish a protection policy for this migratory species.