Beach Blog #19

     We finally got close enough to something that's pretty ugly at first blush, but can in an instant transform itself into an absolute wonder.

The Brown Pelican

     The Brown Pelican, Louisiana's state bird since 1966, is a frequent flyer along these white beaches of northwest Florida. On the ground, they are nothing to look at. They're big, wobbly and just a mottled brown.
     We took the picture to the right late one morning. Every step we took to get closer, he took a waddle away from us. We both wanted to see him with his big bill and saggy neck, but he kept that tucked under like he was bashful about his big nose and triple chin. After a couple successful steps closer, he'd had enough of us and took off with two giant hops to open his wings and catch the oncoming wind.

Up, Up & Away!

     Wikipedia shows the Brown Pelican is actually one of the smaller pelican species, but still considered one of the larger seabirds. My photo doesn't do it justice but that wingspan ranges from 6'8" to 7'6". That's a big bird. On the land, it's everything depicted by the clumsy pelicans in "Finding Nemo."
     Watching this guy from so close, we could almost hear the goofy dialogue associated with the pelicans in "Nemo." We could easily visualize those cartoon characters. Everything about him on land screamed spastic and dim witted just by his appearances. But once they take to the air.... Well, it usually stops us in our tracks. Take a look.    

          This camera phone video captured this pods flight but not all of the pelicans' gracefulness. The way they coast and then accelerate with one flap of those big wings quickly makes up for their awkwardness on shore. But it's when they fly over the water that beach combers point and get their children's attention.
       The big birds fly just above and parallel to the crashing waves. They coast on the thermals created by the wave that as it falls pushes air up and under the bird's wings. The pelicans fly so low that it looks like anyone of them could catch a wingtip in the water and cartwheel wingtip over wingtip into the ocean. And when they land on the water, they drop as softly as a napkin falls when dropped from your hand. No splash. No crash landing. No heckling from the smaller birds. They are a sight to see.

Bill Robertson, unexpected birder