His bill can hold more than his bellican,
He can take in his beak
Enough food for a week
But I’m damned if I see how the helican!
This poem was written by Dixon Lanier Merritt in 1910.
Apparently it is true. The pelican’s bill can hold 3 times as much as its stomach.
We came upon a wonderful pelican wading in the shallow surf at Main Beach. He was hovering around my old friend Col, the wormer, in the hope that a little treat might come his way. Col had quite an audience with the pelican and seagulls.
Pelicans are amazing birds. They have a huge wingspan, up to 3.4 metres, and take off by running across the water to build up speed while flapping their wings.
Australian pelicans are white with black wingtips. They found all over Australia and are the largest of the 8 species of pelicans found worldwide and also have the longest bill. They have leathery blue/grey legs and feet and are most ungainly on land.
Col demonstrated how agile they can be by throwing a fish. The pelican was instantly in the air, caught the fish and with one gulp it was gone.
Col now has a friend for life. As we left the pelican was watching him like a hawk hoping for another tidbit to come flying through the air.
I love the feathers on the back of its head and those remarkable eyes.
I really love my early morning walks on the beach. For more on Col, the amazing wormer, click here.
We fondly remember them. Our walks along Main Beach, observing these beautiful birds were part of our daily lives. We miss them… but life goes on. Thank you, Debra, for bringing back those memories.
By: mulino dominillo on February 24, 2014
at 7:56 am
I don’t see them all that often on the beach, more on the broadwater. It was a delightful encounter.
By: Debra Kolkka on February 24, 2014
at 7:58 am
Thanks for this! Reminds me of the pelican that comes to the jetty of my Mum’s place on Lake Macquarie at dusk. You’re making me homesick!!
By: chillcat on February 24, 2014
at 8:38 am
They are amazing birds. I love watching them land on the water. For such a big bird they are very graceful in the air.
By: Debra Kolkka on February 24, 2014
at 9:12 pm
I LOVE pelicans!! Thank you so much for this post.
By: The Daily Cure on February 24, 2014
at 9:00 am
They are great looking birds. I was surprised to see one in the surf.
By: Debra Kolkka on February 24, 2014
at 11:25 pm
They’re beautiful, aren’t they? We ran into one at the Fish Markets a couple of years ago and were able to get up very close to him/her – just a stunning bird! Lovely photos, Deb! xx
By: Celia @ Fig Jam and Lime Cordial on February 24, 2014
at 9:17 am
This one allowed us to get close. He was concentrating on Col’s fish.
By: Debra Kolkka on February 24, 2014
at 11:26 pm
I too love Pelicans – growing up on the Sunshine Coast of Queensland – we loved the Pelicans, especially when we had been fishing – they would hang close by until the fish were filleted and they got their share of fish head and remains . Still have a couple of favourite ones who visit Laidlaw Parade and hang around the boat deck hoping always for a feed. John Craig and Ethan have special names for them. Lovely blog thanks Deb ..
x
By: Dianne Cant on February 24, 2014
at 9:37 am
They are fabulous looking birds and seem prepared to put up with humans for the benefits.
By: Debra Kolkka on February 24, 2014
at 11:28 pm
Wow,it’s interesting.
By: ranu802 on February 24, 2014
at 10:17 am
It was fun to meet a pelican on our morning walk.
By: Debra Kolkka on February 24, 2014
at 11:30 pm
Beautiful coloring on those birds. Very impressive!
By: Eagle-Eyed Editor on February 24, 2014
at 10:42 am
They are big birds and very beautiful.
By: Debra Kolkka on February 24, 2014
at 11:30 pm
Beautiful images… If I get to meet birds like this, I won’t mind waking up early and going for a walk every day 🙂
By: Sreejith Nair on February 24, 2014
at 10:58 am
I have been walking on the beach early every morning and this is my first pelican.
By: Debra Kolkka on February 24, 2014
at 11:31 pm
Such beautiful colours in those photographs and Col was such a good sport. I love watching pelicans come into land – like big bombers with clearance from the control tower.
By: Jan on February 24, 2014
at 11:38 am
It was good of Col to donate some of his worm bait for a good cause.
By: Debra Kolkka on February 24, 2014
at 11:32 pm
Just beautiful Debra…. I miss the GC beach and all its wonders 😉 How good are you for getting up so close to Mr Pelican??? x
By: janinevasta on February 24, 2014
at 1:00 pm
He let us get quite close because he was longing for one of Col’s fish.
By: Debra Kolkka on February 24, 2014
at 11:32 pm
I love pelicans! I have only ever seen them stalking tourists in Greek restaurants, they are so charming and funny!
By: Joanna on February 24, 2014
at 5:26 pm
They manage to be comical and elegant at the same time.
By: Debra Kolkka on February 24, 2014
at 11:33 pm
I admit I would have been a little afraid to get so close to take those pics…maybe you had a zoom lens! 🙂 great pics!
By: Diana on February 24, 2014
at 8:00 pm
The bird was not aggressive at all and allowed us to get quite close. I did use a zoom for the close up of his head.
By: Debra Kolkka on February 24, 2014
at 11:33 pm
Love the poem and love the pelican with its comical looks, startled eye and lumbering walk. Will always remember ‘Mr Percival’ in “Storm Boy” – that bird shared the star billing in the film.
By: Sandra Hoopmann on February 24, 2014
at 9:29 pm
Storm Boy was a lovely movie about a boy and a pelican.
By: Debra Kolkka on February 24, 2014
at 11:34 pm
I’m a pelican fan too. These are great photos!
It’s unusual to see them in, or close to, the surf, as they normally prefer calm water.
By: Anonymous on February 24, 2014
at 9:36 pm
I often see them at the calm water on the other side of the spit where they hang around the retuning trawlers looking for scraps.
By: Debra Kolkka on February 24, 2014
at 11:35 pm
Wow, those photos are amazing! And, yes, the eyes–I had never noticed a pelican’s eyes before. How cool!
Hugs from Ecuador,
Kathy
By: Kathryn McCullough on February 24, 2014
at 10:06 pm
They are great looking birds. It was wonderful to be so close to one.
By: Debra Kolkka on February 24, 2014
at 11:36 pm
Quite different from the brown pelicans I’m used to seeing along the Louisiana coast. They almost don’t look like they are from the same species. I love that his feet tinted a bluish color.
By: Jackie Cangro on February 25, 2014
at 12:54 am
I haven’t seen brown pelicans. I’m sure they are just as wonderful as the white and black ones.
By: Debra Kolkka on February 25, 2014
at 7:54 pm
He is handsome and he knows it Debra 🙂 Lovely shots.
By: Madhu on February 26, 2014
at 12:31 pm