Hungry Baby Pelicans

Pelicans have short legs, long necks and their feet have all four toes webbed to aid in swimming. They are huge birds, with some birds being almost 6 feet in length. Wing spans range from 6 feet across to up to 11 feet. They are dark grey brown with white over their heads and in front of their necks and they have a huge lower bill or pouch.

Pelicans usually fish on beaches and in shallow estuaries because the shallow water assists them with the plunge-diving technique they use to catch fish. When searching for food, they soar high above and when a fish is spotted, they fold back their wings and plunge headfirst towards the water.

The commotion of diving into just a few inches of water stuns the fish. The pelican then stretches out its bottom bill and scoops up the meal plus a bunch of water. When not scooping or holding fish, this lower bill is long and narrow with a hook on the end. Before eating, the pelican tips its head forward to empty the water out of its pouch, and then swallows his food.

Pelicans have special air sacks under their skin on the front of their bodies to protect them from the impact of dozens of dives a day.

When pelicans are on shore and there’s an easy meal to be had, they are not shy and will come within a few feet of humans. They are very patient and will stand around for ages waiting for the beach vendors to toss them some scraps.

This morning I watched, for the first time, adult pelicans feeding their young near the shore. As soon as a parent swooped and caught a fish, the baby pelican was right there to get fed. The adult would swallow its catch and then open its mouth wide and the young bird would reach way down into its throat and grab the food. Obviously there must have been a lot of feed out there because this feeding frenzy went on all morning.