Today we drove to a place called "The Entrance" to help feed Australia's largest water bird, the large black and white pelicans who come every day to be fed and checked by wildlife volunteers.
Pelicans can weigh up to 10 kilos and can fly for 24 hours at a time. The Pelican's pouch is extremely soft and elastic yet tough. A pelican will scoop its pouch through water trapping fish, and after forcing the water out, a slight tilt of its head will send the fish head first down its throat. One pelican had swallowed a fish hook and we saw him being held while the hook and bait were removed from his throat. He was happy to have that horrible hook removed and was given extra fish to eat for being so good.
Both Sean and Kieran were able to feed the pelicans fish pieces. Kieran even managed to get close enough to pat one of the birds while mum and aunt Mary got hit on the head by the wings of pelicans who were trying to get closer to the food!!
One bird had a twisted beak and was called Twister while another had only one wing after a car accident 28 years before. Guess what his name is??? Both boys donated to the Pelican Fund which helps feed and look after these beautiful birds. In return they were given two little toy Pelicans.
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