Saturday, June 21, 2014

the pelicans have landed

Every summer brown pelicans show up to feast on bait fish that arrive with the ocean currents. But this year they arrived early and by the thousands! For a week the beach was filled and I mean filled with pelicans eating all day- it was a sight to be seen!

Pelican Fun Facts:

Fossils of pelicans date back almost 40 million years ago.

Pelican pouches can hold up to three gallons of water (2 - 3 times the amount their stomachs can hold).

Depending on the species, a pelican's the body length can range from 4 to 6 feet and the weight can range from 10 to 30 pounds.

The brown pelican dives on fish from above and snares them in its bill. 

Pelicans do not store fish in their pouch, but simply use it to catch them and then tip it back to drain out water and swallow the fish immediately. 

Gulls will often sit on a pelican's head to steal its fish when it opens its bill to pour out the water

Pelicans are social birds and typically travel in flocks, often strung out in a line. 

Pelicans incubate their eggs with their feet. They hold the eggs under the webs that stretch from the front toes to the hind toe, essentially standing on the eggs to warm them.


13 comments:

Unknown said...

Wow! Amazing :)

Michelle said...

We get white pelicans here in Queensland (Australia). They're beautiful. I have never seen so many at one time, though! That's amazing! :-)

Liz said...

Wow! Beautiful, beautiful pictures!

Patricia said...

So many palicans!!!
Wonderful! :)

Lisa Ullrich said...

Gorgeous photographs, Alisa. Do you also sell your photography? I learned a whole lot of somethings about pelicans today. Nice post.

Anonymous said...

Just wonderful photos of these magnificent birds!! It always amazes me how animals know just where to be and how to get there for optimizing their survival. Awesome.
xx
Gabrielle

Unknown said...

I love pelicans and all birds! This post is so cool :)

xo, gina

Fil said...

Fabulous photographs Alisa ... wow. I've never seen a pelican - they're amazing looking birds ... thank you for sharing these :)

Se7en said...

This is just incredible!!!

Jo Murray said...

WOW!!!!! They are superb birds.

Pat S said...

Wow, great photos. How did Lucy react to such a wonderful sight?

Wildflowerhouse said...

Amazing to see!

Dorothy said...

Beautiful! I love shore birds. We have white pelicans come through in the spring. They fill the pond and the fields around it.

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