Sunday, November 25, 2012

Pelican Flight

pelicanflight5201


I'm fascinated by pelicans simply because you don't see them in Michigan and they are everywhere out here, and for the most part they are HUGE. National Geo says they have a body of nearly 6 ft and a wingspan of 10 ft; that sounds about right. It gets your attention. 

 Watching them fish is really something. They circle above the water until they spot a fish, and then abruptly dive straight down, sometimes spinning in like a small aircraft shot out of the sky. Not much grace in the act, but it works for them. 

 Here's a shot of one I happened to catch in flight at Lake Merritt.