[texbirds] Itch when high in the sky - pelican preening on the wing
- From: MBB22222@xxxxxxx
- To: texbirds@xxxxxxxxxxxxx
- Date: Wed, 2 Jan 2013 04:17:29 -0500 (EST)
For some time now I am collecting photo documentation of birds that can and
do, at least from time to time, preen during flight. Except frigatebirds
and some terns there is not much to see around here but surprises can
happen. I do not watch pelicans too often but I do not recall ever seen one
preening on the wing (has anybody seen that on regular basis?; perhaps I need
to
watch them more often) and cannot find photo or information (but only done
very quick search) for this kind of behavior found in pelicans. What I
have to admit it looks hilarious perhaps partially because of a prehistoric
look of this bird and perhaps the size of its bill. Even watching preening
pelican when roosting is an interesting event. Pelican can be very precise
when preens small feathers with the tip of the bill which seems to be build
perfectly for this task, with small hook able to grab and manipulate small
objects - rest of the bill would be quite useless for that purpose.
So here is a close up photo of Brown Pelican preening on the wing and
showing its bill tip in action.
_http://www.pbase.com/mbb/image/148124224_
(http://www.pbase.com/mbb/image/148124224)
And here a full frame pelican which, at least to me, looks quite funny when
preening on the wing (it is using feet to help control the flight as
well).
_http://www.pbase.com/mbb/image/148124225_
(http://www.pbase.com/mbb/image/148124225)
Mark B Bartosik
Houston, Texas
_http://www.pbase.com/mbb/from_the_field_
(http://www.pbase.com/mbb/from_the_field)
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