Pelican and its dark reflection... foggy morning at Arch Creek East
Calm. Serene. Quiet.
Fog covering the world I usually see. The details. The color. The brightness. Muted.
Harsh sounds. Glaring sun. Covered in fog.
Scanning the horizon, a black waterbird and its black shadow emerge.
Clear.

The Eastern Brown Pelican, also known as the American Brown Pelican or Common Pelican is a large bird yet the smallest of the world’s eight Pelican species.   The Brown Pelican has an average weight of 8-10 lbs, measures 4 ft. in length with a magnificent wingspan of 6 ½ to 7 ½ ft. and now makes it home throughout southern Florida. 

Pelicans are very social, congregating in flocks throughout the years. Pelicans often fly squadron style, necks folded and have exceptionally keen eyesight.  It is not unusual for Pelicans to sky-dive from altitudes of 60-70 ft looking for schools of fish, similar to the Osprey’s spectacular aerial dives.  The Pelican is equipped with air sacs beneath the surface of its skin which cushions the impact and helps them surface quickly.  The loose skin of the lower mandible pouch is called a “gular” pouch. It is used as a dip net and can filter an amazing 3 gallons of water to sieve out prey.  This pouch doubles as a holding tank for their catch.  Pelicans consume as much as 4 lbs of fish each day and feed on anchovies, menhaden, herring, mullet, minnows, shiners; also on squid, tadpoles, frogs, prawns and other crustaceans.

Pelican, Pelicanus occidentalis
Arch Creek East Environmental Preserve, North Miami, FL
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