HABITAT   Home Habitat Behavior Literature Links Feeding occurs primarily in shallow estuaries along the Atlantic and Gulf of Mexico coasts with the birds seldom venturing more than 20 miles out to sea. When a fish is spotted, the pelican goes into a dive, plunging 30 to 60 feet bill-first into the water. (EB 1966) Offshore sand bars are used as daily loafing areas and nocturnal roost areas. Preferred nesting sites are small coastal islands which provide protection from mammal predators, and sufficient elevation to prevent widescale flooding of nests. (FWSD 1998)