Watching Pelicans

Last weekend I attended Featherfest in scenic Galveston, Texas. Being a gulf coast town many of the birds present were those I see regularly at home in Florida. None-the-less, it is always fun to watch interesting bird behaviors and it's even better when it happens up close and personal and you have scope and camera on hand to document the events as they unfold!

Brown Pelican plunge dives for food (Leica digiscoped image)

I've seen the relationship between Brown Pelicans and Laughing Gulls many times in the past, but I don't think I'd ever photographed it. I watched the antics of these birds for nearly an hour when I first arrived in Galveston and thought I'd share the story here. As you likely know Brown Pelicans "plunge dive " for their food diving into the water head first to capture their prey. Upon completing their dive they bring the top of their head out of the water warily watching for would be fish thieves as the water drains from their distended pouch.

adult Brown Pelican with pouch distended after a successful plunge for food

Of course it didn't take long for the "pirates" to enter. Sharp-eyed Laughing Gulls would wheel over to try and capitalize on the pelican's bounty.

Laughing Gull picks at bait fish hanging out of pelican's pouch

The gulls were often successful at nabbing some of the smaller bait fish that were hanging out of the pelican's bill (as shown in the images above & below), so obviously this is a worthwhile endeavor for them. However, the cagey adult Brown Pelican has played this game many times before and wasn't going to give up too much of its food to this scourge of the sea!

Laughing Gull with pirated bait fish taken from this Brown Pelican

The pelicans would quietly endure the thieving Laughing Gulls, swimming with their bills mostly submerged, waiting for just the right moment. When the gull would get far enough away the pelicans would rapidly snap their bills skyward and dump the remaining prey into their gullet.

with the gull's back turned the pelican quickly snaps its bill up

Despite the gull's thievery, the patient Pelican still enjoys the "last laugh".

adult Brown Pelican digiscoped Galveston, TX 3/28/07

Leica APO Televid 77 scope and Leica D-Lux 3 camera

How many of you have watched this behavior?... (feel free to comment) It's quite fun to stop and watch some of nature's little "mini dramas" even if none of the stars are considered "marquis" players! ;)