Tough act to swallow
When attacked by predators, certain kinds of catfish can protect themselves from being swallowed by locking their pectoral fins (and spines) in an outstretched position. That's what happened to this white pelican.
1. The catch. The catfish is bigger than the pelican's bill. And the other pelicans want some, too. You can see the outline of the catfish's head and outstretched pectoral spines at the bottom of the pouch.
2. Got a mouth full. The pelican tries to reposition the fish.
3. The pelican tries again to down the catfish. You can see the catfish head and spread pectorals at still the bottom of the pouch. This catfish is not going down easy.
4. Fellow pelicans want some of this fish, too, but the catfish jammed itself and isn't going anywhere. The catfish has the pouch stretched thin.
5. When I left the pelican, it was hunkered down with the catfish spines still pushing out on the pouch. Tough pouch. I wonder if either participant survived this episode.
A wonderful bird is the pelican,
His mouth can hold more than his belly can,
He can hold in his beak,
Enough food for a week!
I'm damned if I know how the hell he can!
1. The catch. The catfish is bigger than the pelican's bill. And the other pelicans want some, too. You can see the outline of the catfish's head and outstretched pectoral spines at the bottom of the pouch.
2. Got a mouth full. The pelican tries to reposition the fish.
3. The pelican tries again to down the catfish. You can see the catfish head and spread pectorals at still the bottom of the pouch. This catfish is not going down easy.
4. Fellow pelicans want some of this fish, too, but the catfish jammed itself and isn't going anywhere. The catfish has the pouch stretched thin.
5. When I left the pelican, it was hunkered down with the catfish spines still pushing out on the pouch. Tough pouch. I wonder if either participant survived this episode.
A wonderful bird is the pelican,
His mouth can hold more than his belly can,
He can hold in his beak,
Enough food for a week!
I'm damned if I know how the hell he can!
Dixon Lanier Merritt, 1910.
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Comments
http://behret.smugmug.com/ NANPA member
How many photographers does it take to change a light bulb? 50. One to change the bulb, and forty-nine to say, "I could have done that better!"
Been in Fl all my life almost and never saw this. :>))
Great shots
Gale
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