Pelican's Repose

Pelecanus Occidentalis

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$50.00 plus framing.

17 x 22 on Archival Acid Free Paper

Limited Edition Print / 500

Brown Pelican

The Artist: "I chose this pose of the Brown Pelican because it shows the reward of respite after the bird's brief fishing session. Its dart-like dive is so interesting that slow motion film would be a great way to study it. I constantly wonder at the flip up of its head and the gulping motion of its enormous pouch. After this floating lunch if the appetite is satisfied, the Pelican will again take flight to a safe perce where quiet watching and dozing are the peaceful rewards. At rest, the pelican's body appears compact with the head resting back between the shoulders or tucked in along the side of its body.

Its ability to glide with only slight and infrequent flaps along the surface of the water is astounding. With careful observation one can see the Pelican slightly tilt its head while doing this glide so close to the water's surface, and its sharp eyes will see the fish it wants for lunch. A circle and gained elevation will become a targeted dive and within seconds the Pelican has landed like a spear in the water, snatched its fish, and bouyed to float on its belly with pouchy beak extended to swallow the fish whole."

The brown pelican, a large water bird, whose ancient ancestors were flying while dinosaurs roamed, has a unique appearance. His distinctive twelve inch bill has a pouch for catching fish that holds two gallons. Standing fifteen inches tall, the pelican has a five foot wing span, yet only weighs seven pounds since its strong bones are hollow. At first its plumage is brown with a white belly. By the second year, it is gray with a darker belly, and in adulthood the belly turns black and the head white. Until fall, a brown strip is along its back and then after molting a white head with a golden crown signifies readiness for mating.The brown strip reappears after nesting.