Watch Our Animals online: Episode 4 Pelicans

They are Australia's largest flying bird. Adult pelicans have a bright yellow ring around each eye. Under their long bills they have a saggy throat pouch It's used for collecting food. When it's very hot pelicans flutter their throat pouches to keep cool. They like to live in large groups. They work together to get a meal of fish or tadpoles. They drive their dinner into shallower water… …and then all thrust their bills underwater at the same time to scoop up their meal. In the breeding season the parents build a shallow nest on the ground. The female usually lays 2 white eggs and she and her partner take turns keeping the eggs warm. A month later the chicks hatch. They are naked and pink and their eyes are open. They rely on their parents to bring them food. Food is partly digested fish. At 3 weeks the chicks can walk. When they are 3 months old they can fly. In a year they will be as big as their parents and able to fly as beautifully as they do.

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