Australian pelicans, like most birds, are constantly on the lookout for food. They are fearsome hunters. They have the longest beaks in the bird world and their wingspan is massive. Their eyesight is extremely sharp, too, and they constantly dip their heads below water level to scan for fish, which are their main food source. However, they also take other birds such as gulls and cormorants; their method of killing birds is to drag them underwater and drown them, then swallow them whole. Mostly they hunt together, rounding up fish then striking. I took this photo at Hat Head as they swam close to shore, hoping for scraps of fish from some men who were cleaning their catch.
Quite a different color than our brown pelicans. I observed a pelican up in Santa Cruz swimming and then quickly slashing his head into the water to catch fish. I'd never seen pelicans do that before, only had seen them dive from the air.
I was just thinking how very cute they are until I read how they drown other birds!
Now I see them as quite the hunters - with a touch of cuteness.
Wonderful shot.
They do have MASSIVE wing span... around 2.8m... or 9ft! I've never heard that about them with other birds!! A few weeks ago Andy took Oskar fishing and was throwing food out to one and it was catching it in it's beak... I was cursing that I wasn't there with the camera lol.
I like your shot... nice capture... I don't think I've seen them swimming together like this.
@ozziehoffy Always pays to take your camera everywhere, doesn't it? I went to the pictures with mine today and came across a kookaburra and a noisy miner having a barney outside the cinema. Was glad I had it with me.
@girlie I didn't go fishing with them lol... but yes, does pay to have your camera. I got some fire fighting shots the other week! LOL @ the barney... could just imagine that one!
Love this! Such a handsome squadron of pelicans. Your pelicans are so much more distinguished looking than our rather drab, but wonderful nonetheless, brown pelicans.
Everything in nature has a purpose. I just don't get that saying eats like a bird....because birds eat all the time and they need to just to survive. They are really impressive animals!
Now I see them as quite the hunters - with a touch of cuteness.
Wonderful shot.
I like your shot... nice capture... I don't think I've seen them swimming together like this.