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Brown Pelican


Brown Pelican
Photo Information
Copyright: Manyee Desandies (manyee) Gold Star Critiquer/Gold Star Workshop Editor/Gold Note Writer [C: 3065 W: 231 N: 5834] (19602)
Genre: Animals
Medium: Color
Date Taken: 2006-07-30
Categories: Birds
Camera: Canon Powershot S3 IS
Exposure: f/3.5, 1/1600 seconds
Photo Version: Original Version, Workshop
Date Submitted: 2006-09-08 1:52
Viewed: 632
Points: 34
[Note Guidelines] Photographer's Note
I just love standing on the beach and watching the brown pelicans fly over me. Though ungainly on land, they are beautiful flyers, and fascinating to watch.

Brown Pelican
Pelecanus occidentalis

Behavior
Pelicans are very gregarious birds; they live in flocks of both sexes throughout the year. They are exceptionally buoyant due to the internal air sacks beneath their skin and in their bones, and as graceful in the air as they are clumsy on land. In level flight, pelicans fly in groups, with their heads held back on their shoulders, the bills resting on their folded necks. They may fly in a "V", but usually in regular lines or single file.

Reproduction
Male pelicans pick out the nesting sites and perform an "advertising" display which attracts the females. Once a pair forms a bond, overt communiction between them is minimal. Pelican nesting peaks during March and April; nests are in colonies either in trees, bushes, or on the ground. Those placed in trees are made of reeds, grasses, straw, and sticks; if on the ground, nests consist of a shallow scrape lined with feathers and a rim of soil built 4-10'' above the ground. Brown Pelicans lay 2-3 chalky white eggs. Incubation is about 28-30 days; young walk out of the nests on the ground about 35 days after hatching but do not leave treetop nests until about 63 -88 days for their first flight.


Physical Description
Brown pelicans are dark and bulky. The sexes are similar in plumage and both are 4-4.5 ft (114-137 cm) long. The head is white with a pale yellow wash on the crown; the long bill is grayish; back, rump, and tail are streaked with gray and dark brown; the breast and belly are a blackish-brown; eyes pale yellow; and legs and feet are black. Immatures have brownish- grey necks and white underparts. All pelicans have bills that are as long or longer than their heads. The huge naked skin pouch suspended from the lower half of the hooked bill holds two or three times more than the bird's stomach-about 3 gallons of water and fish. Pelicans hold their catch and let the water drain from the corners of their mouths before they swallow. Fish are never carried in the pouch, but in the gullet or esophagus. The pouch, besides acting as a dip net, is also pulsated in extreme heat to allow cooling. Pelicaniformes are the only birds that share in common a totipalmate foot, that is, one in which all four toes, including the hind one, are united by a web of skin.

Source
blakitan, Argus, elefantino, Juyona, horia, SunToucher, marhowie, kedavis, thor68, coasties, ddg, pauljk, pilonm has marked this note useful
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Critiques [Translate]

  • Great 
  • Argus Gold Star Critiquer/Gold Star Workshop Editor/Gold Note Writer [C: 2492 W: 132 N: 7090] (22145)
  • [2006-09-08 2:09]

Hi Manyee,
Lovely clear shot of this Brown Pelican. I get the feeling that he was gliding when you took it, as pelicans do to make more use of the air currents and save energy.
TFS together with info.
Regards, Ivan

  • Great 
  • Zeno Gold Star Critiquer/Gold Note Writer [C: 477 W: 0 N: 926] (7969)
  • [2006-09-08 3:29]

Hi Manyee,

Nice in flight shot. Sharp and vivid colors. The blue background is wonderful. I have seen these birds in tobago and really like to observe them. Especially when they are diving.

gr.
Zeno.

Great shot, of this big winged bird.
Nice compo and well managed pic.

Andrea

Hi Manyee,
Sharpness and great details are qualities that I always see on every single picture of yours. I deeply admire your photos. Also, your informative note. This one is no exception! Sharp and details, nice light blue BG -providing nice contrast with the brown color of the pelican-, and nice simple frame.
Superb shot.

Ben Lakitan

  • Great 
  • Juyona Gold Star Critiquer/Gold Note Writer [C: 1999 W: 6 N: 1951] (13041)
  • [2006-09-08 4:24]

Hola Manyee,
La foto de hoy es preciosa el encuadre me gusta mucho, parece que el pelícano puede ser mas libre. es fabuloso, TFS. gracias

  • Great 
  • horia Gold Star Critiquer/Gold Star Workshop Editor/Gold Note Writer [C: 2044 W: 212 N: 3655] (12162)
  • [2006-09-08 5:31]

Hi Manyee

A really beautiful in-flight capture of this great pelican!
Excellent POV, very sharp details, great light and colors, very nice blue BG. All is as it should be :)

Bravo and TFS
Horia

  • Great 
  • jossim Gold Star Critiquer/Gold Note Writer [C: 1676 W: 5 N: 2144] (11868)
  • [2006-09-08 8:29]

Bonjour Manyee!

Félicitations pour cette belle capture. Les détails du plumage sont parfaits.

Merci!
joseph

Very nice inflight ManYee!
Very good sharpness, detail, color, and exposure..
I like this POV and framing also mf.
Very well done.

Hi Manyee
Great action capture. I especially like your positioning and angle of the pelican in the frame. Nice detail. Ben is right. Your pictures are always pleasing to the eye and mind.
Take Care
Kathy

Hi Manyee,
Perfect action shot!Congratulations TFS.Hilmi

Hi Manyee,
What a beautiful gracious photo of this impressive bird. The still look a lot like the flying dinos. Stunning details and colors and a beautiful composition.
TFS,
Niek

:) tomorrow

  • Great 
  • thor68 Gold Star Critiquer/Gold Star Workshop Editor/Gold Note Writer [C: 714 W: 114 N: 1032] (4577)
  • [2006-09-09 10:04]

hehe, 747 approaching food-runway. *g*
wonderful inflight-shot, manyee! :-)
perfectly timed, razorsharp and with amazing details.
well done & take care, thorsten.

Hi Manyee

Perfect in-flight shot. Love the composition. Looks great against the clear blue BG. :-)

  • Great 
  • ddg Gold Star Critiquer/Silver Workshop Editor/Gold Note Writer [C: 880 W: 23 N: 926] (4989)
  • [2006-09-10 4:19]

Hi Manyee, excellent shot of this Brown Pelican flying, great details and beautiful colors too.I like your POV, well done, Didier.

Hi Manyee,
Nice in flight. We do not have pelicans in New Zealand but I would love to get the opportunity one day to try and capture what you have.
TFS
Paul

Hi ManYee,

Doubt that I am going to catch up with critiquing all the photos you posted while I was away. This one really caught my eye. It is amazing that you were able to capture such a sharp image with your little camera. Those of us who have recently purchased much larger equipment might feel a tad nonplused...to say the least : ) It is a great shot and a testament to your dedication, persistence and striving for excellence in this hobby of yours. TFS

Evelynn : )

Hello Manyee­,

Great shot of this Brown Pelican! Not easy to take because being just over your head, you had to be quick with the camera to caught it using that POV! Very sharp and really good composition. I like the nice blue sky around him! Excellent shot and TFS,

Michel

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