pelicans

ever gone to the beach and noticed all the birds? There are thousands of bird species that live near and around the water, but the biggest ones of all are Pelicans. There are several different types of Pelicans, and the Great White Pelican is the second largest flying bird in the World. With a wingspan of 12 feet, they soar above the waters looking for fish. They are excellent fliers and swimmers but can look clumsy on land. Pelicans live on every Continent on Earth, except for Antarctica. Not only are they known for their size, but they are also easily recognized by their large throat pouches. The elastic pouch can expand to hold almost three gallons of water! They use their beaks and large pouches to capture fish, their main food source. Some Pelicans can dive from as high as 60 feet in the air into the water to capture fish, while others work in groups swimming and herding schools of fish into shallow waters. Pelicans do not store fish in their pouches, but they sometimes hold them in their gullet, or throat. The smaller Brown Pelican commonly found in the Gulf Coast states is the state bird of Louisiana. They were once an endangered species due to the usage of a pesticide called DDT. After it was banned, their numbers came back. Many Pelicans migrate South for the Winter, and they breed in small colonies on islands. They do not chirp or squawk like other birds, but rather they make a grunting noise. How many different color Pelicans have you seen this Summer?