Young pelican – Costa Rica – Photo by Matthew Kritzer
What other animals walk, swim, and fly?
Pelicans are famous for their enormous beak; it has a throat poach they use to scoop up the fish. The pelicans feed on that fish by immediately tipping the beak back to drain the water and swallow the fish. Pelicans swoop down sharply from heights up to 10 meters with the only purpose of catching the fish. They can swallow salt water in their throat making it drinkable through a process of desalinization. They have long-lives, often up to 25 years.
Most Pelicans nest between January and February. The females lay between two or three eggs in a tree nest, rarely on the ground. It is interesting how they incubate the eggs by standing on them.
Pelicans are migratory and social birds; they fly great distances in a “V” formation, because it helps to reduce wind resistance. Studies revealed the use of this pattern-formation allows them to increase their endurance by 71%. The strongest bird leads the flock. They rotate positions as they get tired, always maintaining the formation.
In Costa Ballena, it is possible to find injured and dehydrated birds, with fractures or vision problems. A major problem is the angler hooks stuck in their gastrointestinal system, in such a case, only surgery can solve the problem. If you ever find a sick pelican by the beach that needs to be transported to a veterinary center, remember they use the enormous beak to defend themselves. Avoid getting your face hurt by closing the peak with duct-tape, and placing the bird in a box with enough ventilation.
