The Pelican Squadron

The the Bayside marina at the Bass Pro Shop in Islamorada is home to a docile, people-friendly, group of pelicans.  What to call a group of pelicans?--They may be called a squadron, a pod or flock or scoop. They let me get very very close without getting their feathers ruffled.   

 

 

The pelican is most easily recognized by its long beak and large, stretchy, expandable throat pouch which it uses for catching its prey.   Their wings are long and broad and are often bowed when gliding through the sky. When the pelican  spots its prey, it plunges into the water, its throat pouch expands to trap the fish, and filling with up as much as 2 1/2 gallons of water.  The water drains before swallowing its catch.  During the dives, it tucks its head and rotates its body to the left.  This rotation is to protect the trachea and esophagus (on the right side of the body) from impact.   

While not searching for their next meal, pelicans like to surf the wind updrafts or stand around on fishing docks looking for any scraps tossed out as the fishermen clean their catch.  They breed mostly on barrier islands on the Atlantic and Gulf Coasts, but here in Florida, they breed in the mangrove islets.  Pelicans have been known to live for about 30 years in captivity, 15 years in the wild.  The oldest Brown Pelican on record lived to be 43.  

Enjoy this limerick  by Edward Lear

A wonderful bird is the Pelican.
His beak can hold more than his belly can.
He can hold in his beak
Enough food for a week!
But I'll be darned if I know how the hellican?

 Joy