You refer to Europe but I am not sure if you are writing from a
European perspective. Interesting and there is a parallel that Rainbow
Lorikeets will roost in street trees near lights. Pelicans are big birds, very
different from parakeets. I assure you that the observation on which I decided
to start this, was on VERY HOT (at least high 30s C) weather, in daytime and
still very uncomfortably hot throughout the night. In case you need a context,
it was so hot, it was hard to sleep, even with no clothes and no cover and with
the fan on. I suggest that the majority of these coastal observations of
birds in SE Australia are similarly usually hot weather. I don’t
know if Pelicans do this pole perching at night. That might make no difference
to my suggestion, as people still do walk along the beach at night. Another angle
that no one has mentioned. It could also be that the Pelicans are able to get
off the ground into the breeze and thereby have a better chance to cool down a
bit, although that seems odd as they can always go in the water…….
Philip
From: Andrew Wood [
Sent: Sunday, 20 January, 2019 3:08 PM
To: Philip Veerman; ;
Subject: Re: [Birding-Aus] Pelicans perching on poles - suggestion
Non-native
parakeets in Brussels, Belgium, roost on lighting towers because, unlike
trees and most other structures, they are warm overnight when the lights
are on. Might the pelicans have noticed this too - or do they only
perch rather than roosting?
From: Birding-Aus <> on behalf
of Philip Veerman <>
Sent: 20 January 2019 14:38
To: ;
Subject: [Birding-Aus] Pelicans perching on poles - suggestion
Thanks for all the responses. To clarify, I was not in any way
suggesting that what I was seeing is unusual. Pizzey’s book mentions it.
Most responses are from coastal SE Australia, so I am still not sure how widespread
the habit is. I think that the strangest one is that Sandra mentioned them roosting
high in dead trees at the Mugga Lane tip. I go there often (both the tip
and along Long Gully road). Maybe I’m guilty of watching the road whilst
driving, (lots of kangaroos there). That is even stranger than at coastal
venues. I was more angling at obtaining hints on the context for why these
birds should do that. It is not as though they are Sea-Eagles looking for an
opportunity to swoop down on a fish. It is not that they are getting away from
other pelicans, as they even have 3 pelicans perched on 3 lights on one pole.
They clearly like to do this and it has some benefit, as it is a high energy
behaviour. I notice most of the venues reported are beachside communities with
lots of passing, walking, running, etc humans. For now the best explanation I
can offer is maybe the reason is as simple as when perched up there, they are
immune from being bothered and having to walk, fly or swim away from passing
people, dogs, or whatever. And they can stay there unbothered until they decide
to come down. That will be my theory for now. When on the ground they sure do
“appear” to act indignant at having to get out of the way. I wonder
can there be any other benefit?
Philip
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