Monday, April 25, 2011

More Pelicans



In this post, I mentioned my friend Phil Jeffries and his wonderful photos...I asked permission and he said I was welcome to share whatever he sent me--so here are some of his amazing pelican photos from Cooley Lake!


Looking at them, I realized that the ones I saw halfway across the lake must have had the breeding keel or "centerboard" on their huge beaks, but they were too far away to see, even with the binoculars.  Each bird has a slightly different shaped keel, and both sexes shed them once the eggs are laid.  Quite impressive, aren't they!

I hadn't realized pelicans were THAT big...the white ones can get 62" tall...my height!  (Bald eagles are more like 48"...with an 8' wingspam, to pelicans' 8 1/2-9 feet.  Really big birds!

Unlike the brown pelicans, these guys don't dive from the sky after prey (and as shallow as Cooley Lake is, it's a good thing!)  Instead, they may fish in concert, forming a long line and herding small prey into the shallows. 

I'll miss them when they head North...Phil says he's already seen large groups of them heading that direction.

9 comments:

  1. Saw an Eastern Towhee today at the feeder! I had to look him up to see what he was!

    Gina

    ReplyDelete
  2. They are spectacular birds. Amazing creatures.

    ReplyDelete
  3. Wow, also didn't realise they're THAT big Kate! I'm sure they're a force to reckon with, don't cross their path! Lovely photos from Phil and your sketch shows some great detail.

    ReplyDelete
  4. And I'll miss your pictures of them when they head north too. I much prefer your life filled drawings to the more static bird art you usually see.

    ReplyDelete
  5. Thanks, all! Phil goes out in his kayak and camo early in the morning to get close...he gets some amazing shots, doesn't he!

    ReplyDelete
  6. Wonderful, Kate! White Pelicans are rare here. This is such a treat! I didn't know about their keels.

    ReplyDelete
  7. I'm surprised they're rare there, Pam! Thought they'd be a lot more common where you live...

    ReplyDelete
  8. Just awesome! What a gorgeous bird to sketch, and you did great! Whew, I never thought they were that big!

    ReplyDelete

We'd love to hear from you, your questions, comments, observations! Please feel free to comment, feedback is important to us.