City - Moss Landing State - CA Country - United States
About
Right before sunrise dozens of pelican flies off the Elkhorn Slough in search of Anchovies. I got this shot at Moss Landing Beach during one of the most colorful and beautiful mornings that I have seen. The California brown pelican stays close to shore and hunts for its food usually within five miles of land. Occasionally, one may travel as far as thirty to forty miles when necessary (Patent, 1992). The brown pelican is a unique feeder that makes impressive dives from ten to thirty above the surface. They are, however, able to dive from as high as one hundred feet. The deeper the meal the higher the dive (Cook, 1974). When it sees a potential meal it begins to tip downwards, the wings shape into a V, and dives. When the bill touches the surface of the water the pelican will push its legs and wings back creating a bit more force, under the water the bill opens and the pouch stretches out wide allowing the pelican to scoop up fish. The pelicans hit the water with such force that even fish six feet below the surface are stunned (Patent, 1992). Air sacs throughout the bird’s body help to cushion the shock from the dive. Their pouch, attached to the lower mandible, when full can hold up to three gallons of water and fish (Roever, 1974), it is the largest pouch of any bird in the world (Cruickshank, 1958). The pelican pops up to the surface, tips their head and bill forward letting the water drain out yet keeping the fish. Then they toss their head back to position the fish head first and swallow. It is said that brown pelicans can eat as much as four pounds of fish in one day (Roever, 1974). Another way they feed is by sitting on the surface of the water and scavenging for food. This has been known to get them in trouble these days due to dying fish caught in fishing lines that the pelicans too can get caught up in.
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