The Aussie Pelican

Pelecanus conspicillatus

Also known as Nori by the Ngaarrindjeri peoples in the Coorong.

At home throughout Australasia and travelling as far north as Western Indonesia. The Aussie Pelican is a common sight in the Coorong but can also be found in Papua New Guinea and even across the pond in the land of the Kiwi.

One of eight known species world wide, Theres The Brown Pelican, The Peruvian Pelican, The Great White Pelican, The Dalmatian Pelican,The American White Pelican, The Spot Billed Pelican, and the Pink Backed Pelican, the Aussie, is a medium sized pelican, with a wingspan of around 2 to 2 and a half meters. A full meter shorter than the largest, Dalmation Pelican’s wingspan of 3 and a half meters.

The Aussie’s bill however, tops the charts at up to 500mm in length, claiming the title of, the longest bird bill in the world.

They weigh in at around 4 and a half to seven kg, but beefier specimens can weigh up to 13kg. Even so, pelicans in general are one of the lightest birds for their size in the world. Their skeleton, an amazing piece of engineering, makes up only 10% of their body weight and a special layer of air sacks under the skin makes them extremely buoyant, sitting high in the water.

Often we see them “bobbing” for fish around the lakes and lagoons, and yes Its bill can hold more than its belly can. 

Capable of stretching up to three times as much sideways as lengthwise, an Aussie Pelicans “pouch” can hold upwards of seven litres, while it’s stomach can only manage half that.

Used like a scoop to catch it’s prey, the “pouch” is then squeezed against its breast, to force out the water like a sieve, before swallowing down the catch with a few jerks of its head and neck.

This large scoop, allows pelicans to sometimes take ducks, gulls and even small dogs, and swallow them down

Pelicans haven’t really changed much over the millennia, a fossilised bill found in France was structurally identical to a modern day pelican bill, and a leg bone fossil, found in Egypt was said to be “remarkably similar” to living species today. If it ain’t broke, don’t fix it, the original was so good.

As we watch the squadrons fly in, fish and move on, we realise there is so much more to learn about this wonderful bird the Pelican.