Look What I Caught is a photograph by Jennie Breeze which was uploaded on November 12th, 2013.
Look What I Caught
The American White Pelican is a large aquatic bird which moves to the coast in the winter. It rivals the Trumpeter Swan as the longest bird native... more
Title
Look What I Caught
Artist
Jennie Breeze
Medium
Photograph - Original Img_3912
Description
The American White Pelican is a large aquatic bird which moves to the coast in the winter. It rivals the Trumpeter Swan as the longest bird native to North America. Both very large and plump. It's overall length is about 50 to70 in. courtesy of the huge beak which measures 11.3 to15.2 in. It has a wingspan of about 95-120 in. The species also has the second largest average wingspan of any North American bird, after the California Condor. Body weight can range between 9.2 and 30 lb. Unlike the Brown Pelican, the American White Pelican does not dive for its food. Instead it catches its prey while swimming. Each bird eats more than 4 pounds of food a day. The plumage is almost entirely bright white, except the black which is hardly visible except in flight. The bill is huge and flat on the top, with a large throat sac below.
I can watch them all day long!
Uploaded
November 12th, 2013
More from Jennie Breeze
Comments (15)
Don Columbus
Congratulations, your work is Featured in "A Birding Group - Wings" I invite you to place it in the group's "2020-2022 Featured Image Archive" Discussion!!
Jennie Breeze replied:
Thank you Don! Great to be selected and featured in your A BIRDING GROUP-WINGS art group.
Jennie Breeze
Thanks Pravine! Appreciate the feature in your ANIMALS AND BIRDS PHOTOGRAPHY art group.
Hanne Lore Koehler
Spectacular action capture, Jennie! Fantastic sunlight, shadows and reflections! L/F
Kyle Dig
Oh interesting! That must be some hungry bird! Still, it seems difficult to me that the bird can deal with this large fish! So the bird was actually able to fit (swallowed alive?!) that whole thing down its long/skinny throat completely somehow?? I have never witnessed an event like this before. I feel somewhat perplexed over how it actually happens, wouldn't the fish stand a chance of escaping or even damaging (it’s sharp fins, wriggling, biting, etc.) the bird's throat/stomach if eaten in that condition?! It’s hard for me to imagine that the formidable-looking fish (wouldn't the prey also go into a desperate "survival mode" once it realized that it hit the stomach?) doesn't turn around inside the elastic gullet and how the bird can keep down/digest such an object with no issues? I don't have much knowledge about these events and am mostly curious, I appreciate any feedback/explanation. Sorry for all of the questions, have a good week ;)
Jennie Breeze replied:
I've watched them look like they won't be able to swallow a whole fish, but as long as it takes, they do! It's amazing. Each bird eats more than 4 pounds of food a day. The plumage is almost entirely bright white, except the black which is hardly visible except in flight. The bill is huge and flat on the top, with a large throat sac below. I think the fish is dead before it hits the stomach...
Kyle Dig
Amazing capture! That looks like a big fish (do you know what kind and can you see it thrashing about inside the pouch?) not too happy and trying to make a desperate escape here! So does the Pelican really manage to win the battle and gulp that whole thing okay? Does the fish put up a good fight, if eaten does the unlucky prey get swallowed wriggling all the way down as well?!
Jennie Breeze replied:
Thanks Kyle! Yes that was a big fish. I thought the pelican was going to choke on it, but it went all the way down. The fish wriggled, but didn't have a chance. Definitely the catch of the day!
Jennie Breeze
Thank you Susan! Appreciate being featured in your WOMEN PHOTOGRAPHERS group homepage.
Jennie Breeze
Glad to be selected and featured in your FISH ARTISTS group homepage!
Jennie Breeze replied:
Thanks Susan Lee! Grateful to be featured in your WOMEN PHOTOGRAPHER group homepage.
Jan Dappen
wow, what an awesome capture!
Jennie Breeze replied:
Always grateful to be selected and published in your ARTISTS NEWS publication. Thank your Nadine & Bob!