ABSTRACT
Two very different species of Pelicans occur in the Afrotropical Region. Both breed in Kenya. Great white pelican's breeding colonies are scattered throughout but the largest, who houses the greater part of the African population, are on the E African rift lakes. Large scale movements are known, but there is no evidence for birds of Palearctic origin in E Africa. This bird is scarce at the coast, and of only transient occurrence on waters lacking adequate fish. The single Kenyan breeding colony, which has held up to 8000 pairs, started in 1968 on small rocky islands in L Elmenteita 62A, after the introduction of fish into L Nakuru 62A had created a food source. Pink-backed pelican exhibits marked contrasts with the White Pelican. The Pink-backed often utilises much smaller water bodies, and can be found on any aquatic habitat that holds adequate fish except the open sea.
