On a recent visit to the Charleston boat basin (Birding Oregon, p. 142) I enjoyed watching a flock of Brown Pelicans feeding close to shore.
After plunging into the water, the birds would swim with their bills submerged, slowly letting the water out as they strained out whatever fish they had captured in the dive.
Later in the summer, the Brown Pelicans will be accompanied by Heerman’s Gulls. These beautiful dark gulls make their living stealing fish from Brown Pelicans. The Heerman’s are currently on their nesting grounds in California, so for now, the pelicans can eat in peace.
Ethical Birder 