Stretch Yourself and Soar Over Rough Waters

Pelicans are large water birds. There are seven or eight species of Pelicans characterized by a long beak and a large throat pouch used for catching prey. Pelicans inhabit lakes, rivers, and seacoasts in many parts of the world. 

In Canada they are found from the interior of British Columbia to northwestern Ontario. Pelican birds migrate south to the Gulf Coast states and Mexico.  About 10% of the world’s population of American White Pelicans can be found in Ontario.

Pelicans use fish as their main food source.  Pelicans use their large elastic throat pouches like a fishing net to scoop the fish into their bill.  They have a very small tongue that controls the pouch and permits the pelican to expel as much as three gallons of water before swallowing their catch.

Pelicans are generally friendly birds.  Because of their size and ferocity when alarmed, experts recommend that you don’t touch them. Pelicans will slap the water with their wings in order to keep their feathers clean and light.  A vigorous banging of the wings on water gets rid of most of the fleas and other parasites that pelicans can carry. Pelicans bathe during the day when the sun is out so the feathers will dry quickly.

Pelicans fly in flocks over water because sharks and sea lions attack adult pelicans individually.  The most common predators that target eggs and pelican chick include reptiles, alligators, raccoons, and wild dogs and cats.

Pelicans roost offshore at night and then during the day they loaf.  Some of their loafing sites include pilings, jetties, sandbars, breakwaters, and islands.  A group of pelicans has many names.  They have been called a brief, a pod, a pouch, a scoop or a squadron of pelicans. 

These are the sayings found on the bookmark called Advice from a Pelican.

• Wade into life

• Look beneath the surface

• Spread your wings

• Keep your beak clean

• Soar over rough waters

• Stretch yourself

• Go fish!

Here are my thoughts about each of these sayings.

• Wade into life - Become involved even in a difficult situation.  Don’t wait till you have all the details. Jump in and take action.

• Look beneath the surface - Think outside the box.

• Spread your wings - Try new things.

• Keep your beak clean - A beak is the nose and mouth of a bird.  Keeping your nose clean means staying out of trouble. 

• Soar over rough waters - Rise up and soar over difficult or confusing situations.

• Stretch yourself - Step out of your comfort zone.

• Go fish! - In the card game the response Go Fish means no.  It means go look somewhere else for what you asked for.  When you get a no, don’t quit.  Keep moving forward and try something new.  

Have a great day everyone.  Stretch yourself and soar over rough waters.  

# living life abundantly   # published author   # travelling tuesdays