White pelicans–some facts, myths and a poem

White pelicans–I never knew there was such a creature!

Below you see my best photo of one of the white pelicans I’ve been observing near my house. At the beginning of this month, as I walked along the nature trail near my house, a huge white bird flew over my head and landed in the pond.

At first, I thought it was a swan because it was white had a long neck, but then I noticed it’s long beak and thought it must be an egret. When I looked again, I noticed the wide beak. Well, eventually my friend April mentioned that there is a white pelican festival somewhere near here that she wanted to go to–me, too! When she said that, I realized who I had come across! I looked them up, and sure enough, I had seen white pelicans. For a few days, I saw a lot of them. Today, I saw only two, so maybe they stop here on their way to somewhere else.

Poetry Friday (more or less)

Once again, Friday night found me too tired to post (it’s Saturday now), even though I started my post in the morning. But it’s still Poetry Friday in my heart. Thanks to this week’s hosts, Franki and Mary Lee at A Year of Reading — Optional theme: Naomi Shihab Nye.

Nature’s creatures fascinate me. I love meeting new ones. I wrote a series of bug-kus: Ladybug Bug-ku,  Japanese beetle bug-ku,  and a slug bug-ku, all inspired by bugs in my garden.

But now, in my new home, I’m fascinated by the birds. In additions to the white pelican, I’ve seen all sorts of wonderful birds here–red-winged blackbirds, yellow-hooded blackbirds, kill-deer, orioles. So more of them may visit my blog.

Interesting pelican facts

• It’s not true, however. Pelicans don’t store food in their beaks but use them more like a strainer or fishnet to get rid of the water they scoop up with the fish, which they then usually eat right away.
• white pelicans–and maybe others–work together cooperatively to catch fish.
• during mating season, both male and female white pelicans grow a temporary horn on their beaks. It seems that it falls off when they’re done with the season.

• pelicans’ nostrils are sealed off, so they have to breathe through their mouths (like a permanently stuffy nose?) but their nostrils have glands that clear extra salt from their systems–important if you scoop up seawater with your dinner.
• The pelican family is at least 30 million years old–that’s the oldest pelican fossil that’s been found!

Pelican mythology

In medieval Europe, people believed that if food was scarce, the mother pelican would stab her own breast with her beak and feed her children with her blood. ( Not true.) Thus, the pelican became a Christian symbol–as people compared the pelican’s sacrifice with Jesus’ sacrifice for humanity

Of course, pelicans have other symbolism, as well, even if they are not so well known in the Western world. In Egypt, they symbolized death and the afterlife and artists often used them as symbols in tombs.

The great white pelican (not the same as the American white pelican) is the national bird of Romania.

My pelican poem:

You soared over my head,

your great wings outspread.

I felt the breeze of your flight

saw black feathers against white

that tipped underneath your wings.

I heard your silence that never sings.

 

With power and grace

You landed without a splash.

American pelican of white,

you flew into my life

with beauty, strength, and peace.

Safe nesting to you, and plenty to eat.

Thanks for stopping by–I wish you safe nesting, as well, and plenty to eat.

xoxo