Ten fun facts about Pelicans

Fact 1
Pelicans live mainly in warm regions nears coasts and estuaries. These birds have large webbed feet which enable them to propel through water and control their direction.

Fact 2
The body length of an adult pelican ranges from about 4 feet to 6 feet and its weight ranges from 10 to 30 pounds. Their bill is typically about 18 inches long.

Fact 3
The wingspan of pelicans is about five meters and this enables them to fly up to altitudes of 3000 meters. The additional air bags located among their bones, neck chest, skin and wings improves the aerodynamics of their flight.

Fact 4
Pelicans eat tadpoles, fish such as carp, mullet and minnows and crustaceans and turtles.

Fact 5
Their pouches hold up to three gallons of water which is 2 – 3 times the amount that their stomachs can hold.

Fact 6
The pouches are used to catch fish and rainwater for drinking. They do not store food in their pouch. They breathe through their beaks.

Fact 7
The average lifespan of pelicans in the wild is 10 to 30 years.

Fact 8
The males and female help each other to build nests and take turns in incubating eggs. Females lay up to 3 eggs and the incubation period lasts 28 to 36 days.

Fact 9
Their beaks can hold 3 buckets of fish. They are among the heaviest flying birds and their skeleton is 1.10 of their body weight.

Fact 10
Pelicans are social birds and are always found in the company of several other birds. They hunt in groups too.