Brown Pelican at Islamorada, Florida Keys

"Brown Pelican at Islamorada, Florida Keys"

 

WILDLIFE PHOTOGRAPHY – ISLAMORADA, FL KEYS

 

This shot of a Brown Pelican was photographed in Islamorada, located in the Florida Keys. This bird was captured using a Nikon D90 camera body attached to a Tamron 28-300mm lens.

Unique among the world’s seven species of pelicans, the Brown Pelican is found along the ocean shores and on only a few inland lakes in the southwestern U.S. It is the only dark pelican, and also the only one that plunges from the air into the water to catch its food. While the Brown Pelican is draining the water from its bill after a dive, gulls often try to steal the fish right out of its pouch. They sometimes even perch on the pelican’s head or back and reach in. The pelican itself, however, is not above stealing fish from other seabirds. It also follows fishing boats and hangs around piers for handouts.

Unlike most birds, which warm their eggs with the skin of their breasts, pelicans incubate their eggs with their feet. They hold the eggs under the webs that stretch from the front toes to the hind toe, essentially standing on the eggs to warm them. This peculiar incubation method made them vulnerable to the effects of the pesticide DDT. The DDT made the eggshells thin, and the incubating parents frequently cracked their eggs.

 

 

Subject Photo exif Data

Camera Make and Model NIKON D90

Photo taken on April 18, 2012, 12:28 pm

Focal Length 46mm

Shutter Speed 1/125

Aperture @ƒ/8

Related posts

9 Thoughts to “Brown Pelican at Islamorada, Florida Keys”

  1. Josh25

    Impressive work! I don’t impress easy.

  2. Shelly B

    Gorgeous image Alan :=)

  3. (@Photobug52) (@Photobug52)

    Brown Pelican at Islamorada, Florida Keys http://t.co/pjb5Kx2B

  4. Fred Marie (@FredMariePhoto)

    RT @Photobug52: Brown Pelican at Islamorada, Florida Keys http://t.co/pjb5Kx2B

  5. carol Torres

    The Pelican reminds me of the dinosuar era
    Beautiful bird.

  6. Tadalafil

    Nice photo

  7. Online Casino

    Love the Keys

  8. Kanishka Paul

    Absolutely amazing shot sir..!

  9. Alan S. Hochman

    Thank you very much! 🙂

Leave a Comment

TO PREVENT SPAM, PLEASE ANSWER THE FOLLOWING. THEN PRESS * Time limit is exhausted. Please reload CAPTCHA.

Alan S Hochman Photography