A Hop, Skip and a Jump!

I was on the pier watching the many pelicans that have followed the menhaden and shrimp into our little bend of the Bay. These are the Brown Pelicans that almost at times seem to be quite cumbersome. In reality, they have this fishing thing down to a science. They follow the menhaden wherever they may go. This way, the Brown Pelican is insured a steady meal..they do not have to worry about hunting. They just merely plow headlong into the water and scoop up as many menhaden as they can. Next, they hold their heads high with the tip of their huge bills pointed toward the sky. This assures that the nearly three gallons of water will drain from their mouth but the menhaden will slip down their gullet! They have to be careful doing this as occasionally a seagull will try to steal the menhaden from the pelicans' throat!

I was watching them dive and swallow but was more interested in their flight. Once in the air, they are amazingly graceful but that takeoff leaves something to be desired! These pelicans give the idea that they are more trying to run on water than take off in unfettered flight! Their wide wings spread, their large webbed feet sort of hop two-footed on the top of the water until finally they get enough lift to take off above the water. Then they remind me of some prehistoric bird in flight. The wingspread enough is impressive but the bulk of their body even being able to get in the air is quite the feat!

They can soar for great distances just a few feet above the water. Then SMACK!..they smash back into the water. How in the world they do not break their necks is far beyond my comprehension! Somehow, they repeat this process over and over again with no obvious pain to their necks! Out of all the pelicans in the world, our Brown Pelican is the only one that does an aerial dive for food.....and is the only dark colored pelican! I knew this guy was special! At least each and every one is special to me!