Pelican Power

 As promised, today we have come to Australia and are looking at the Pelican.  Throughout the photographs I will give you interesting information about these beautiful birds.  (I hope the Australian bloggers will find something they may not have known)

The Australian Pelican is a predominantly white bird with black wings and a pink bill.  It has been recorded as having the longest bill of any living bird.  It mainly eats fish, but will also consume birds and scavenges for scraps.

It is medium-sized by pelican standards, with a wingspan of 7.5 to 8.5 ft.  Weight can range from 8.8 to 29 lbs although most of these pelicans weigh between 10.0 and 17 lbs.  The pale pinkish bill is enormous, even by pelican standards, and is the largest bill in the avian world. The record-sized bill was 20 in long.   Females are slightly smaller with a notably smaller bill, which can measure as small as 13.6 in at maturity.  The total length is boasted by the bill 60–74 in, which makes it rank alongside Dalmatian Pelican as the longest of pelicans.

There is a white panel on upper-wing and white-V on rump set against black along the primaries. During courtship, the orbital skin and distal quarter of bill are orange-coloured with the pouch variously turning dark blue, pink and scarlet. The non-breeding adult has bill and eye-ring pale yellow, pouch pale pinkish. Juvenile similar to adult, but black replaced with brown and white patch on upper wing reduced.

  

The Australian Pelican begins breeding at two or three years of age.  Breeding season varies, occurring in winter in tropical areas (north of 26oS) and late spring in parts of southern Australia. Breeding may occur any time after rainfall in inland areas. The nest is a shallow depression in earth or sand, sometimes with some grass lining.  Nesting is communal, with colonies located on islands or sheltered areas in the vicinity of lakes or the sea.  

Breeding Australian pelicans will lay one to four (typically two) chalky-white eggs measuring 3.7 in × 2.2 in, which often appear scratched and dirty.  The eggs are incubated for 32 to 35 days. The chicks are naked when they hatch, though quickly grow grey down feathers.  After they hatch, the larger one will be fed more, and the smaller one will eventually die of starvation or siblicide.

For the first two weeks the chicks will be fed regurgitated liquid, but for the remaining two months they will be fed fish and some invertebrates.  Feeding pods are formed within colonies when the chicks are around 25 days. The young pelicans fledge at around three months of age.

The following are more fun and interesting facts about pelicans:

• There are eight species of pelicans and the Dalmatian pelican, is the largest species, with a wingspan that can reach the length of 11 1/2 feet!
• Pouches can hold up to three gallons of water (2 - 3 times the amount their stomachs can hold).
• Pelicans will flap their pouches to cool off on hot days.  

• Did you know that Pelicans have been around for over 40 million years?  Yes, the earliest Pelican fossils were discovered in an undisclosed location in France.
• Pelicans and their relatives are the only group of birds to have webbing between all four toes.
• The male of the pelican species pitches in to help incubate the eggs, much like a penguin does. 

• There are various legends in various cultures that would have the pelican either nourishing or resurrecting her young with her own blood
• The pelican is the state bird of Louisianna  

• Pelicans may have been worshipped in ancient Peru; they are depicted in a lot of Peruvian
• Gulls will often sit on a pelican's head to steal its fish when it opens its bill to pour out the water.
• In the wild, the average lifespan is 10 to 30 years.

Now the photo below is (especially for the Australians). 

How many different birds can you ID?

There are Austrailan Pelican, Spoonbill, Silver Gull, Caspian and Gull-billed Tern, Curlew and  Bar tailed Godwit. 

Did you ID them all?

 This is a close up of the Pelicans and Spoonbill above.

I have a short video to show you and it can be accessed at

http://youtu.be/0QZWi0fMoF0

If there is a black space below, click it and the video will appear. 

  

I hoped you enjoyed coming with me to Australia today.   Thank you for visiting.

MANY THANKS TO ALL who left comments on any of my posts yesterday

I am linking to Wild Bird Wednesday today