Trivia question for Jun-06-2011
Olivia has always been partial to this species, especially after she saw the first pictures during last years oil spill in the gulf when she saw the American version of this bird being pulled out of the ocean covered in oil. Let’s see how she does.
These guys assemble in ‘fishing fleets’, each bird playing its part in a cooperative quest for food. Birds dip their heads in unison to scoop fish into their huge throat pouches. Today, because of overfishing in certain areas, these guys are forced to fly long distances to find food. They are exploited for many reasons. Their pouch is used to make tobacco bags, Their skin is turned into leather, the guano is used as fertilizer, and the fat of their young is converted into oils for traditional medicine in China and India. Human disturbance, loss of foraging habitat and breeding sites, and pollution are all contributing to the decline of these amazing birds.
So here are Olivia’s questions: Tell us what this bird is and where they can be found. Also, tell us how much food (in pounds) two adults need to catch to feed themselves and a single chick during the 10-weeks the chick remains with them?
Good Luck 😉
Congratulations to Carmel for getting the species correct. The bird we featured is the Great White Pelican. The Great White Pelican, also known as the Eastern White Pelican or White Pelican is a bird in the pelican family. It breeds from southeastern Europe through Asia and in Africa in swamps and shallow lakes.
Two adult pelicans need to catch 500-lbs of fish to feed themselves and a single chick during the 10 weeks that the chick remains with them. A group of 6 to 8 great white pelicans will gather in a horseshoe formation in the water to feed together. They dip their bills in unison, creating a circle of open pouches, ready to trap every fish in the area. Here is more on these crafty birds: Great White Pelican
Thanks for playing along 😉