The pelicans are one of the more unique birds that is so easily recognizable. They definitely stand out in a crowd with their large pouched bill. These birds can easily catch fish just by opening their mouth and expanding their throat pouch in the water. But once they reach a surface above the water they need to drain all that water before actually swallowing their meal.
One of the pelicans more acrobatic acts is that of catching the large fish. They use their bill-tip to snag a large fish than toss the fish into the air and catch it with their open mouth. Mmmm, fresh fish sounds good, doesn't it?
There are 8 species of pelicans and they can all be found in the warm regions of all continents except Antarctica. In our region you will most likely find them in the Gulf states and Louisiana has the distinct pleasure of having the pelican as it's state bird.
In the two above pictures you see some pelicans who were rescued from the recent BP oil spill. If you look closely you can see a discoloration on their feathers. These birds were brought to Brookfield Zoo in Chicago as part of a global rescue operation. The pelicans you see here are able to do everything but fly. After residing at the zoo for a few months they will be sent to a wildlife preserve to live out the rest of their lives.
This is just another example of the importance of supporting your local zoo.
The pelicans are unique birds that fall into that special group we call
God's creation.
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