I have been noticing lately that Pelicans love to soar in circles over the wetlands where they hang out.
Is there a reason for this?
Is it part of a mating ritual, because it usually involves a couple or a foursome.
They seem to just soar in circles high above the swamps where i see them.
or do they just enjoy doing it?
cheers,
steve
I suppose they just like doing it. They ride the thermals like the eagles I think.
Hi Steve
Your observation of Pelican behaviour is spot on.
However, asking "why" is always fraught with danger - it is something we humans do to make sense of something which Nature does naturally.
None-the -less, we all do it.
I would comment that Pelicans which have trained to soar on thermals have an evolutionary advantage, as it gives them the ability to fly vast distances to the lakes of central Australia, when the Coopers Creek floods Lake Eyre, etc. It has been noted over many years that Pelican will disappear from the south-east coastal areas, Lakes Entrance, etc, when a cyclone large enough to flood Lake Eyre hits the Gulf of Carpentaria.
So, although they seem like lazy fliers, having the ability to glide and soar on thermals can give them the ability to fly vast distances across the continent, when it is appropriate (floods bring vast explosions of aquatic life forms - a bounty). Pelicans turn up and breed in enormous numbers.
Hope those comments put it in context for you.
By the way, how Pelicans at Lakes Entrance (Gippsland, Victoria) know to fly to Lake Eyre, and to know WHEN to do it, remains a mystery (to me).
Very interesting topic.
Cheers
Denis
Denis Wilson
www.peonyden.blogspot.com
A bit off topic but the reason birds such as pelicans fly very close to the water's surface is not due to a high glide ratio but to take advantage of the phenomenon known as "ground effect". This is because of the additional lift provided very close to a flat surface to an aerofoil - in this case bird wing. Low wing efficient aircraft tend to float on landing especially if they are a little hot (fast).
Regards,
bushie.
Thanks for your responses, guys.
-
Dennis, You are quite correct about my anthropomorphism, :)
That is very interesting how pelicans know when to go inland. Nature continues to amaze and astound me!
'
Jack, thanks for the info re gliding, birds wing mechanics are quite gob-smacking once one thinks about it all..
,
I have seen a doco somewhere about how pelicans and other birds fly in formation so that the air flow makes it easier or more efficient for the following birds..
There is a certain distance and the drag is reduced, afaik.
.
mind-boggling stuff, hey?
.
cheers,
steve
A pelican is perhaps the most unexpected bird I've seen from my backyard.
While I lived on the coast these birds were a very common sight, particularly around Lake Illawarra.
I now live inland with no bodies of water for miles around(apart from small agricultural dams), yet last year I saw a solitary pelican circling overhead, and at that time the drought had dried up most of the dams so there was even less water than usual.
That was very interesting, Jack.
Thank you.
.
cheers,
steve
Out in the western suburbs of sydney, have been seeing groups of up to 12 pelicans soaring over my house in recent weeks.