Pelican Gathering

The Australian Pelican Pelecanus conspicillatus is abundant around where Simon's father lives. This large group is gathered on a sand spit at Woy Woy. Apparently Australian Pelicans have the longest bill of any living bird -- 50 cm in an adult male. They will scoop up all sorts of things in their huge pale pink bill, and luckily, are rather fond of problematic introduced species of fish such as European Carp and European Perch. Here at Woy Woy they are making a living in coastal salt water, but they are just as happy in large fresh water bodies well inland from the coast.