One of the things I love to watch on Galveston Island is the pelicans flying in formation.  They are taking advantage of aerodynamics to conserve energy -- getting a little lift from the pelican in front and a little to the side of them.

Their dawdling drift down the beach will put you in a mood to slow down and watch.

The long art of pruning your pelican feathers

Can you imagine combing your hair with a brush with a handle this long?  This pelican seems to have mastered the art, but it does give his neck a good workout. He was displaying his mastery at the Bolivar Peninsula ferry landing recently.

Pelican goes ferry fishing

A pelican was following low over the water as we crossed from Galveston to the Bolivar Peninsula by ferry.  I suppose he was willing to either take a tossed treat or to see what fish the ferry might stir up  -- whichever came first.

Powered by ScribeFire.

Pelican squadron buzzes Galveston beach

This is probably why a group of brown pelicans is often called a squadron.  They were cruising the beach in Galveston, Tx.   At this particular moment, though, the wind was being uncooperative.
--steve buser

Brown Pelicans, Galveston, TX

Powered by ScribeFire.

Fishing, no strings attached

This Brown Pelican (Pelicanus occidentalis carolinensis) was sitting in a canal to the west of Bridge City the other day as I drove by. When I stopped to shoot the pix, it seemed he went into action. He was very intent on what was going on below him. Suddenly he sprang from the water, flew about 100 feet and dropped down making a quick splash, ducking his bill and head below the water.

He came up with the bill closed and lifted his head up. Whatever it was he caught, you could tell, by the way it swelled his pouch and the effort he made to swallow it, that it was very large.

He repeated that trick once more, before spotting me and flying off to find a new fishing hole.

-steve buser

Brown Pelican, Pelicanus occidentalis carolinensis, Bridge City, Texas

Fighters never win!

While these two Brown Pelicans were arquing about who was going to get the biggest fish for this meal, they missed the thief. Look in the back ground at the wood duck who was taking advantage of their fighting ways to fatten himself up.

The shot was on a trip to the Houston Zoo recently.

--steve buser