By Mary Lundeberg – The brown pelican glides gracefully along the coastline of Florida, occasionally dipping the tip of its six-to-seven-foot wings into the sea. A master of aerodynamics, the wing beats are slow and powerful as it surfs updrafts along waves or buildings. When it spots fish, this native species dives headfirst from heights of 50 feet, folding its wings before it hits the water. The plunge-dive stuns small fish, which the pelican scoops into the gular pouch attached to its lower bill. This huge pouch expands to hold about three gallons of water. A pelican dips its head forward to drain the water from its bill and tips its head back to swallow the fish whole.
The body of a brown pelican is designed for water impact even though the large bird only weight 6-10 pounds. Air sacs under their skin including the throat, breast, and undersides of their wings cushion the impact of hitting the water. These sacs, along with air sacs in their bones, helps them bob to the surface.
Although pelicans can live up to 40 years, two-thirds of juvenile brown pelicans die in their first year, mostly from entanglement in fishing gear and hooks. Strong monofilament line can wind around the bill or legs leading to a pelican’s slow death from dehydration and starvation. If you hook a pelican, never cut the line. Remove the hook if possible and try to avoid excess line.
When fishermen filet sheepshead or other large fish and toss the bones to begging pelicans, the bones can lodge in their pouch, throat or intestines, causing severe injuries and death. Hundreds of pelicans require rehabilitation from fishing injuries each year. Who helps injured pelicans? Wildlife Center of Southwest Florida – 941-484-9657, Peace River Wildlife Center – 941-637-3830, Save our Seabirds – 941-388-3010, and Seabird Rescue – 941-447-0773.
Pelicans prefer to nest on isolated islands in large colonies, with both parents tending the chicks. Juvenile pelicans are brown with a white belly and after three years mature into grayish adults with yellow caps.
Brown pelicans are protected as an imperiled species in Florida. Destruction of habitat, overfishing and water pollution adversely affect pelicans. The Gulf oil spill may have been responsible for hundreds of thousands of seabird losses.
Pelicans swim well with their webbed feet that also serve as brakes for landing. This webbing connects all four of their toes, even the back one. I love to watch pelicans take off, as they pound the surface of the water with both feet to gain speed. I also enjoy seeing them resting and preening their features on a mangrove branch or a post.
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