Or perhaps it's just an easy way of gaining height. If they can get high enough
on that thermal then they can just glide to their destination. According to
this page, they can reach 3000m:
http://www.australiangeographic.com.au/journal/pelicans-in-australia.htm
"WHILE STUDYING THE ECOLOGY of the Coongie Lakes in far north-east South
Australia, I would sometimes lie back in awe and watch the spectacle of one or
two thousand pelicans take off from one lake, flapping initially and
increasingly soaring upward in spirals, until at a great height one bird would
take the lead, break out of the thermal that was carrying it aloft and head for
a distant lake, with successive birds peeling off one by one to follow its
lead. It could take half an hour for a large flock to take flight in this
staged manner, climb the thermals and follow the lines of departing birds to
their new feeding grounds. This was a middle-of-the-day phenomenon, often late
morning, when the thermals had begun to develop."
Peter Shute
-----Original Message-----
From:
On Behalf Of John Leonard
Sent: Friday, 12 October 2012 12:48 PM
To: Birding-aus
Subject: Re Pelican flight habits
I have always assumed they do this when there is a suitable thermal and use it
as a way of constructing a pelican map of the area for ten of kilometers
around. That is, they rise up and by looking in all directions see whether
other Pelicans are also soaring from other lakes or bodies of water. Then the
Pelican can remember observations like "good colony of pelicans about 30 km
north, possibility of resources there if these dry up".
John Leonard
On 12 October 2012 11:35, Keith Brandwood <> wrote:
> would not you enjoy the pleasure of being lifted high on a thermal and
> viewing our wonderful country
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