Pelicans

Many years ago, I sat on a beach in San Diego and marveled at the grace and flying ability of some very large birds that I had never seen before.  They glided, alone or in a tight line of birds, along the crest of the breaking waves.  I had to ask what kind of bird this was.  Pelicans???  No!!!

I thought pelicans were large and clumsy. These birds were agile and very accomplished flyers!
About the only thing I knew of a pelican was the poem that my mother had taught me as a child.

What a wonderful bird is a pelican,

His beak can hold more than his belly can,

He can hold in his beak,

Enough for a week,

I don't know how the helican.  (Molly said heckican)

I still love to watch pelicans fly.  On land they look odd and clumsy. flying and diving for fish they are  fascinating.
Joanne and I had a memorable day watching these pelicans dive for fish just off the shore on a wonderful deserted beach just south of here.

spot your fish

start your dive

pull wings in

prepare for impact

impact

surprise and nab fish

eat fish

look for more fish

And then you do the whole thing over and over again! We discuss the possibility of them getting headaches.

five....

four.....

three....

two.....

one.....

Food!!!