The Wonderful Pelican

A wonderful bird is the pelican,

His bill will hold more than his belican;

He can take in his beak, food enough for a week,

But I’m damned if I see how the helican.

I remember my Aunt Shirley reciting this limeric in the cockpit of their 36 foot Trojan sportfish back when I was a kid. I learned so much from them--Aunt Shirley and Uncle Charles--way back when, but one of the most important things I learned was how amazing the world of nature truley is. Let's look at the pelican for a moment:

The brown pelican is one of the most recognizable birds along Florida’s coast, and if you’ve spent any time on the water, you’ve definitely seen one in action. With its long bill, expandable throat pouch, and impressive wingspan of up to 7 feet, this coastal bird is built for life over the ocean and lagoons.

What really sets the brown pelican apart is its fishing style. Unlike other birds that skim or wade, pelicans are expert plunge divers. From heights of up to 60 feet, they spot fish below the surface, tuck their wings, and dive headfirst into the water. That oversized bill isn’t just for show—it scoops up fish along with gallons of water, which the pelican then drains before swallowing its catch. It’s efficient, dramatic, and always worth watching.

 I can sit and watch the peicans "pounding" the bait all day long. In fact, when looking for bait in the river or along the beach, the pelicans show us right where the bait is. And, in the lagoons, this often translates into finding the bottlenose dolphin, too.

Here, in areas like the Indian River Lagoon and Banana River, brown pelicans are a daily sight. You’ll often find them perched on dock pilings, channel markers, or quietly gliding just inches above the water’s surface, using ground effect to conserve energy. They’re social birds too, frequently gathering in groups where food is plentiful.

The brown pelican also has an important conservation story. Once threatened by pesticides like DDT, their populations dropped sharply in the mid-20th century. Thanks to environmental protections and the banning of harmful chemicals, they’ve made a strong comeback and are now a success story for wildlife conservation in Florida.

Whether you’re out on a charter, enjoying a sunset cruise, or just watching the shoreline, the brown pelican is a constant reminder of how wild, resilient, and fascinating Florida’s coastal ecosystem truly is. So cool.