One of the largest breeds of pelican, these dalmatian pelicans are also one of the largest soaring birds, which means they’re able to fly for long periods without needing to flap their wings.
Identifiable by the slightly unkempt appearance of their head feathers, these birds have faced a population decline as a result of human interference, which makes this group, likely mid migration, all the more special to witness.
Waiting Very Politely
The birds were obviously keeping a close eye on the camera operator and their group, as they followed their boat through the water and all the way to the shore of the lake. It quickly became clear why.
As the pelicans waited in an orderly fashion, a fish, thrown by a member of the camera operator’s group, soared through the air and into their waiting bills.
Where the first fish had come from, there was obviously a large store, and the pelicans weren’t about to leave until they’d all had the chance to enjoy a nice tasty treat.
Time For Another Round
The hungry birds followed the boat to the edge of the lake where they remained in the water, waiting for the people to throw more fish their way. With a food delivery surface such as this, there was no need for them to hunt for themselves.
There was a few moments in between each fish, which meant that if they wanted to snag one for themselves they would have to act fast, or wait jealously while one of the others in the pod enjoyed their snack.
With such a large group of the birds, and apparently only one person throwing out fish at a time, the competition for fish was intense. But, each time a pelican caught a fish there was minimal squabbling, and the victorious pelican went unchallenged.
Keeping It Fair
Every time a pelican succeeded in snatching the fish from the air, or from the water if none of the others got to it first, it magnanimously made its way from the center of the group so that the less fortunate ones would also have a chance to eat.
Although it’s not exactly known why this group of people were feeding the pelicans in this way, the birds appeared to all be tagged, meaning that this was potentially some kind of conservation or nature focused group investigating the birds.
Of course, it’s also likely this was just some people on a fishing trip who wanted to share a little of their spoils with the incredible birds they just happened to see.
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Putting In Some Effort
The pelicans themselves were more than content to wait for their turn for a fish, raising and lowering their heads in perfect synchronization whenever one was thrown. They looked almost as if they were doing a rehearsed performance.
Sometimes, though, one or more of the birds, perhaps frustrated, opened its large wings and flapped hard to put itself head and shoulders above the rest in the hope that they might be the next one to catch the tasty treat.
While it was amazing to see a large group like this, dalmatian pelicans are unfortunately still on the decline, and the IUCN classifies them as being near threatened.
