Australian Pelican By Kathryn and Justine
| The Australian Pelican lives in all parts of Australia. The Australian
Pelicans have brown and white eyes and a long pink bill. Their large
bodies are covered with black and white feathers and they have big webbed
feet and very big pouches under their bills to catch fish up from the water and eat.
They have very, very long necks. The female pelican is smaller than the
male pelican. They are both black and white. Young pelicans are brown
and white. The pelican glides along the surface of the
water. Pelicans are really big and very, very
good flyers. The pelican has been around for almost 40 millions of years. When it rains the pelican moves states. Pelicans like people and sometimes they follow you to your house. To some people pelicans are scary. Pelicans can show off to other pelicans.
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Pelicans lay their eggs on islands and other places. When they lay eggs the mum and dad both look after them. They lay 2 to 4 eggs. They sit on the eggs to keep them warm and always the male sits on the eggs for two weeks. The male does not go to the toilet when he keeps the eggs warm. When the pelican is born, the pelican is naked. When people come near pelicans, the pelicans think that the people are going to take their babies away so they stretch out their neck and make noises. |
| The pelican puts its beak under water to catch fish and holds them in its pouch. They also eat crustaceans, shrimps and frogs. The pelican can hold heaps more in the pouch than in its stomach. When pelicans want food they chase the fish to the shallow end and scoop the fish up. The fish sometimes are in shallow water, so the pelican can catch fish easily. The pelican spies on its food. When they find their food they dive sharply towards the water. The pelican can fold back its wings and flip over just before it enters the water. |
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Pelicans can form flocks of 100s or even 1000s. Breeding colonies are
usually are in island and lakes and swamps. Pelicans can be found in different
states in Australia. Pelicans are often called jumbo jets of the birds. They have a wingspan of up to 3.4 metres. Pelicans use hot air currents to lift them high into the sky. When the pelican lands it needs a runway. When the pelican is going to land, the pelican spreads its wings out in the air and brakes on the sand to slow itself down. When the pelican takes off, it builds up its speed by running faster and flapping its wings. |
| When pelicans cry, they cry through their nostrils and they make
noises. When pelicans go
under water their nostrils close so water doesn't go up their
nose. Pelicans waddle like ducks. They can flutter their pouches underneath
their bill. The bottom part of their pouch is bright pink. Australian Pelicans have the longest beaks of all the birds. |
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Fact File
Habitat: lakes, rivers, and swamps Found: everywhere around Australia Relatives: black - fazed cormorant frigate birds Food: fish, crustaceans, shrimps and frogs Identification: white feathers, and black feathers, big beak, big body. |
