Have you ever spent a few hours watching a flock of pelicans? I was fortunate enough to do just that recently, and want to share some of the really fun and surprising things I saw.

Playing “twister.”

I’m guessing this is what a pelican cough looks like.

These pelicans are stretching the pouches attached to their lower mandibles. These are called gular pouches. These pouches can expand to hold up to 3 gallons of water and whatever fish, amphibian, or other food they may catch as they scoop the water. As you can see, the pouch skin is vascular and porous. Pelicans do not swallow all of the water they scoop up – it drains right out, leaving their meal inside.¹

I watched this pelican pick up and then drop this stick for several minutes. I have not read any accounts of pelicans “playing,” but I think that is exactly what he was doing. I really don’t think that this pelican was trying to eat the stick!

Or was he?

I plan to do at least one more post in this series on pelicans. I hope you enjoy reading these posts as much as I enjoy writing them. If you like them, tell a friend!