A filler since it is POURING here today. Way better enlarged against black background if you have time. While we were shooting (photographically speaking) pelicans, one of the fishermen threw this pelican a big chunk of chicken. We watched it catch it, get it through its wide open mouth, and swallow it to its patch. It then didn't seem to be able to do more with it. Does anyone know what happens with pelicans if they get something too big to fit down into their stomach? Do they throw it up? Does it eventually disolve in chemicals in the pouch? Do they die because they can't get it out. Very troubling to see.
You can actually see the outline there, almost like when a snake swallows it's prey, rather off putting! I would think they will be well able to deal with a large piece of chicken, perhaps waiting to be private before it did what it had to do such as cough it up & re eat!
It's in his "shopping bag" Jane, he'll unpack it later and shouldn't have any issues with it. I love these birds, they's graceful in the air, incredible when they dive, and such wonderful clowns on land!
I looks like he's storing a medium sized animal in that pouch! It sounds like it won't kill him even if it's table manners may leave something to be desired.
Nice close up and processing!
here's a tidbit I found online:
A pelican's bill does have a larger capacity than its stomach. A pelican's stomach can hold up to 1 gallon (3.79 liters), while its pouch can hold up to 3 gallons (11.36 liters). That adds up to the equivalent of 8 pounds (3.63 kilograms) in the stomach and about 24 pounds (10.89 kilograms) in the pouch. While a pelican might technically be able to take enough food in its bill for a week, it doesn't store food there. If it catches more fish than it can eat at one time, the excess is stored in the pelican's esophagus.
from this website: http://science.howstuffworks.com/environmental/life/zoology/birds/pelican-bill-vs-belly1.htm
this is a superb close up and great reading all the comments about how they deal with their food - I love pelicans - and its great to see one this close
November 16th, 2012
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here's a tidbit I found online:
A pelican's bill does have a larger capacity than its stomach. A pelican's stomach can hold up to 1 gallon (3.79 liters), while its pouch can hold up to 3 gallons (11.36 liters). That adds up to the equivalent of 8 pounds (3.63 kilograms) in the stomach and about 24 pounds (10.89 kilograms) in the pouch. While a pelican might technically be able to take enough food in its bill for a week, it doesn't store food there. If it catches more fish than it can eat at one time, the excess is stored in the pelican's esophagus.
from this website: http://science.howstuffworks.com/environmental/life/zoology/birds/pelican-bill-vs-belly1.htm