Australian Pelican Birds - Australian Bird | Short Documentary

There's seven different types of species of pelicans around the world. They all hold the primary color of white and they are similar in shape. Generally the male pelicans are larger than the females. So the most characteristic features for these birds is the elongated beak and the massive deep throat pouch. The Australian pelican is predominantly found throughout Australia in Papua New Guinea, Western Indonesia Pelicans are widespread on freshwater, estuaries, marine wetlands and waterways. These include lakes, swamps, rivers, coastal islands and shores. Pelicans are highly mobile, searching for suitable areas of water and adequate food supply. Pelicans are not capable of sustaining flapping flight but can remain in the air for up to 24 hours. They are excellent swimmers and can reach up to a speed of 56 kilometers per hour. Pelicans mainly eat fish but are also optimistic feeders, eating a variety of aqua animals including crustaceans, tadpoles and turtles. They regularly accept handouts from humans and have been recorded to eat some unusual items. The bill and pouch plays an important role in feeding. The bill is sensitive so helps locate fish in murky water. When the prey is caught and its head is facing down the pelican's pouch, the pelican jacks its head and swallows its prey. The Australian pelicans may sometimes feed alone but often they feed in cooperative groups and sometimes these groups can get quite large. Pelicans can breed all year round but it does depend on the environmental condition and particularly rainfall. Breeding begins with courtship. The female would leave the tantrum of males around the colony as the males follow her. Each other by swinging their open bill from side to side. Males may pick up small objects which they throw in the air and catch again to attract the female's attention. Cut size is between one to three eggs and incubation is roughly 35 days. Their nesting period is approximately 28 days and when they leave their nest, they can fly quite well and are quite independent. While pelicans live between 10 to 15 years or more.