If you ever doubted that God had a sense-of-humor then you haven’t been paying attention. If the Big Guy wasn’t a merry prankster then how do you explain the career of Celine Dion, George W. winning two elections, and the creation of the pelican?
I think when this wonderful bird first manifested God initially broke the mold and then collapsed in merriment. He didn’t even try to outdo the pelican until he devised the platypus a few millennia later.
Actually I’m taking a few liberties with this wonderful bird. I know that as I have traveled down the coast over the years the pelican doesn’t much manifest before central Oregon. Then his numbers increase the farther south a body travels. I think I saw my biggest population ever at Cabo San Lucas a few years ago, but when I was back in San Diego last week, there the fine and awkward looking fellows were. I was delighted to be back amongst them.
I don’t have a lot to say about the brown pelican (pelicanus occidentalis) other than that his presence amuses me and I would like to have one for a pet, if anybody can arrange it. I would like that because I find them comedic in their cumbersomeness.
Fellow on the fishing wharf at Shelter Island was cleaning a couple of wahoos he had caught. The pelicans were enchanted by their good fortune. They slather over fishguts like Homer Simpson does over donuts. The fisherman was quite prepared to share his bounty and he pitched bits of fish to the awaiting birds. One pelican snapped a chunk in mid-air and it got speared on the sharp point at the end of his bill. He tried and tried again to pitch it off — to no avail. It all changed when another pelican swooped down and stole it from him. Reminded me of some of my investments in recent months.
So, that’s my little tribute to the wonderful world of pelicans.
