Pelicans

A pelican is a large bird - as big or bigger than a turkey - with a broad wingspan - about 6 feet (two meters) - and getting all that weight into the air without a runway or handy cliff-side must be an incredible effort. Pelicans manage, however, and make it look easy, launching themselves and flying low over the surface of the water with lazy grace. Above is the small rocky island in Victoria's Inner Harbour favoured by the pelicans for a perch to rest and groom themselves. Check out the video below (42 seconds long) of our Brown Pelicans taking off to find some lunch.

Juvenile Brown Pelican

The flock of Brown Pelicans that are currently visiting Victoria is a mixed group of adults and juveniles. Yesterday I posted a photo of an adult and above is a photo of one of the juvenile Brown Pelicans in the group.

Brown Pelican (Pelecanus occidentalis)

It was exciting to hear a few days ago that a small flock of pelicans were visiting Victoria (Thanks, Dean Lewis). Apparently they are visiting here from further south because of seasonal shoals of some kind of small fish. When I first saw them they were all perched on a small island in the Inner Harbour off the Westsong Walkway. I rushed home and dusted off the 500mm super telephoto lens and voila! The flock is a mixed group of adults and juveniles and we'll have a look at some of the others tomorrow. Above is an adult Brown Pelican.