As you can actually tell from its appearance, the pelican is a prehistoric bird. The oldest fossils found are 30 million years old!
After pelicans were severely threatened in the `60s by the use of DDT, they have also recovered from this and are happily flying around in large numbers again.
This successful bird of prey can spot a fish swimming under the surface of the ocean from as high as 18 metres.
Once their target is spotted from above, they turn into a shooting arrow, their sharp beak aimed straight at the water.
At high speed, they slam into the sea surface and scoop up their prey.
It is a dangerous stunt, but pelicans have numerous adaptations that prevent them from injuring themselves when they hit the water.
Although pelicans specialise in eating fish, they also hunt crustaceans, amphibians, turtles and other birds.
In the video below, you can clearly see exactly how the brown pelican works.
Own entrepreneur in funeral photography.
I love feeling in a photograph...
Read more…