These are two of Louisiana’s state birds. They’re Brown Pelicans and they were once nearly extinct in Louisiana due mainly to DDT use. They’ve made a great comeback since DDT was banned and we have quite a few in Lake Pontchartrain now. They and I had the beach to ourselves today for lunch. I had a Subway BMT. They had the fish.
Another one that crossed my lens. He had about an 8ft wingspan.
Pelicans glide along above the water like the first two photos. When they see a meal below, they make a high bank, tuck those gigantic wings in, and dive straight down like a pile driver. This one was doing that.
For what its worth: If the planet has a few more aphids and a few more pelicans since the ban, I’m OK with that. They’re a joy to watch and are absolutely worth saving.
I love to watch the pelicans, especially when we drive across the bridge.
What fun to be able to share your lunch time with the birds. I'm sure it must be relaxing to get away from work and sit by the water. How lucky you are to see "open" water. Ours is a bit frozen these days :(. Carol
It was more than the DDT that kept the pelicans away. It was actually shell dredging on Lake Pontchartrain that polluted the waters that kept the pelicans away. If you recall, during Edwin Edwards last term there was a pulic hew and cry over his wanting to let his good buddy contract to dredge for shells again (Roemer had stopped that.) The lake was just starting to come back. Edwards made some flippant remark but finally succombed to public opinion. It took a couple of years but slowly the Lake came back and so did the Pelicans!