Brown Pelicans feed by plunging into the water, stunning small fish with the impact of their large bodies and scooping them up in their expandable throat pouches. When not foraging, pelicans stand around fishing docks, jetties, and beaches or cruise the shoreline. In flight, lines of pelicans glide on their broad wings, often surfing updrafts along wave faces or cliffs. Their wingbeats are slow, deep, and powerful.

The Brown Pelican (Pelecanus occidentalis) is a small pelican found in the Americas. It is one of the best known and most prominent birds found in the coastal areas of the southern and western United States. It is one of only 3 pelican species found in the Western Hemisphere. The Brown Pelican is one of the only two pelican species which feeds by diving into the water. The Brown Pelican is now a staple of crowded coastal regions and is tolerated to varying degrees by fishermen and boatmen. It is the national bird of Barbados and the Turks and Caicos Islands, and state bird of Louisiana. It is also one of the mascots of Tulane University and is on the seals of Tulane University,

Ibis, Snowy Egrets and one Brown Pelican on a Sanctuary Rooftop at Key Largo, Florida. Snowy Egrets are among my favorite wading birds for their humorous behavior.

The Brown Pelican (Pelecanus occidentalis) is a small pelican found in the US. It is one of the best known and most prominent birds found in the coastal areas of the southern and western United States. The Brown Pelican is only one of the two pelican species which feeds by diving into the water.

White Ibis strolling around the Injured Bird Sanctuary in Key Largo, Florida. The white ibis about 2 feet tall and has a wingspan of about 3 feet. It is entirely white, except for its black-edged wings. Its blacked tipped wings may not be noticeable when the ibis is at rest, but they are easily seen when the ibis is in flight.

Thriving Pelican Colony on Key Largo, Florida behind the wounded bird sanctuary. These are mostly released injured birds. Fishing line is one of the biggest culprits in damaging our semi-tropical bird life. (Pelecanus occidentalis) Nesting is on islands by preference. On the Southeast coast, it is often in mangroves, where the birds build a rather flimsy nest of sticks, reeds, bones, and seaweed. On islands without predators, they often build on the ground in large colonies.

Key Biscayne Lighthouse

Key Biscayne