by Angie Pollock

Created on: May 08, 2009   Last Updated: November 11, 2011

The pelican was once perceived as a symbol of love and devotion. During the Middle Ages, the pelican was seen as a symbol of Christ and currently still, carvings can be seen in Christian churches of the "pelican in her piety". During mating season, some pelicans will have a distinguished red spot on their chest which has led to the legend that a mother pelican would rip out her own chest just to feed her young, just as Jesus would sacrifice His own blood to save humankind.

The pelican is a large water bird that can have a wingspan as wide as 10 feet. They may appear large and bulky, but this bird is an excellent swimmer and takes to the sky with grace. There are several species of pelicans, most being white or gray but there are also pelicans that are brown such as the Eastern brown pelican which is the state bird of Louisiana. The pelican is part of the bird order known as "Pelecaniformes" which also includes gannets and cormorants.

This odd appearing bird can be found near all continents excluding Antarctica. The pelican will be found near bodies of water including lakes, lagoons, and coastlines. In Europe, this bird is found near the Black and Caspian seas and those in the US are typically located in the north but will migrate in the winter. These birds are important in the ecosystem as they generally feed on fish that are not wanted by humans and their droppings (guano) are an important ingredient in fertilizers.

Pelicans are social creatures, living in large groups with some species known to work together to gather food. The American brown pelican is most notably known for its diving from high above and swooping down to snag a fish from beneath the water. The pouch located below the bill of the pelican is this birds most unique characteristic. The pouch is not to store food but is used as a scoop to catch fish. After the fish is caught, the water drains out and the fish is then eaten.

Pelicans build their nests near the water where the mother pelican usually lays two to four eggs. Approximately four to five weeks after the eggs have been laid, the baby pelicans are born completely dependent upon their mother. They quickly form a "down" coat and eat regurgitated food from their parent's pouch. At the age of 4 months, the young leave the nest but will not get their adult plumage for at least another year or two.

The pelican can live for thirty years or more in the wild. Adult pelicans do not have many natural enemies but baby pelicans are sometimes abandoned or preyed upon by wild animals. The biggest threat to the pelican is humans and the loss of habitat due to land development. In some regions, pelicans have been poisoned from pollutants and pesticides.

The White pelican still remains on the endangered species list in Canada and the Brown pelican was removed from the endangered list due to the record numbers of this bird found along both coasts of the US and several other countries and islands. Fossil records have shown this bird can be dated back to prehistoric times which show how this bird can adapt well to its environment. However, environmentalists continually monitor their populations as wetlands are increasingly becoming scarce which this bird depends on for survival.

Additional reading references:

The New Book of Knowledge, Grolier, copyright 1999.

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