Brown Bomber Letterbox

Texas Birding Trail Series

Brown Pelican

Placed By: Silver Eagle
Date: 12/22/02, Replaced/Relocated (04/26/03), Replaced/Relocated (12/24/03)
Nearest Town: Galveston, TX
County: Galveston
Terrain Difficulty: Easy (flat, 50 yards RT)
Status: retired (03/18/07)

The Brown Pelican is the smallest of the world's eight pelican species, though it averages four feet tall with a wingspan of up to seven and a half feet! It also distinguishes itself from other pelicans because of its method of feeding, which is by diving. All other pelicans feed from the surface. It's quite a sight to watch these gangly looking birds dive-bomb directly down from heights as great as 75 feet to feed exclusively on marine fish. Only 25 years ago their population dipped to near extinction level, but since the banning of DDT in 1972 they have become plentiful again, especially along the Gulf Coast. A great place to see them is Galveston Island, especially the east end at Corps Woods, which is part of the Galveston Loop described on the Upper Great Texas Coastal Birding Trail map and the home of this box. From shore birds to song birds, there is a lot to see here and even though this site is better known for migrating birds in the Spring, Brown Pelicans do occasionally fly over.

Directions:

Corps Woods is in Galveston, which may be reached by traveling approximately 60 miles south from Houston via Interstate 45. In Galveston, right after crossing the big bridge, take the Harborside exit (1C) and turn left on Harborside (TX 275). After 6.2 miles it will dead-end into Ferry Road (TX 87). Turn left (north) and go .4 miles to TX 168 by a gas station on the right. Turn right and go .6 miles to a small parking area on the right by a brown sign saying Great Texas Coastal Birding Trail. The US Coast Guard base is just down the road.

Clues:

From the parking area, walk through the chain link gate with a sign saying "Beware Of Snakes". At the fork in the gravel path, go right for 25 steps and look left for 2 large palm trees off the path. Walk into the brush to the right of the palm trees and walk around them counter-clockwise to the back side of both palms. The box is hidden between them behind a flat rock and palm leaves. Please re-cover well.

NOTE: Always take adequate precautions (such as prodding with a stick and/or wearing gloves) before reaching into dark crevasses and holes in the wild. Before you set out read the waiver of responsibility and disclaimer.

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Last updated on 07/22/2007

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