Long-Distance Pelicans / myLot

Rockingham, Australia

January 7, 2016 1:35am CST

I wrote recently about a meteorite being found on Lake Eyre. This, and a post and photo about pelicans, prompted me to give you more information about this lake. I'm not sure now who wrote about pelicans so can't acknowledge them here. When it fills, Lake Eyre is the largest lake in Australia and is some 700 km north of Adelaide in the middle of the deserts of central Australia. What is interesting is that when the lake fills, pelicans come from miles around to feed and roost. During the 1989-90 flood, estimates put the number of pelicans at Lake Eyre at 200,000 or 80% of Australia's total population. Some come from as far away as Papua New Guinea. Recent rains has seen water again pouring into the lake. As well as pelicans a number of other birds flock to the area to feed and roost. How the birds know the lake is filling seems to be anybody's guess with scientists unable to provide an answer at the present time. Do you have any theories on how birds know when it's time to head for Lake Eyre?

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11 responses

Anna

@LadyDuck (472258)

• Switzerland

7 Jan 16

The animals are amazing, they seem to know much more than our scientists and humans cannot even imagine how they can do this.

4 people like this

Judy Evans

@JudyEv (342489)

• Rockingham, Australia

7 Jan 16

You're right, Anna. There is a lot of things in the natural world that we don't understand.

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ElizabethWallace

@ElizabethWallace (12074)

• United States

7 Jan 16

They follow the rain clouds perhaps.

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ElizabethWallace

@ElizabethWallace (12074)

• United States

8 Jan 16

@JudyEv Animals still listen to the inner voice that lets them know what is going on around them. Most humans have drowned out that voice with technology.

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Judy Evans

@JudyEv (342489)

• Rockingham, Australia

8 Jan 16

@ElizabethWallace That's very true. Some of our outback aborigines still have many of those inner voices still operating and are amazing with what they know is going to happen.

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Judy Evans

@JudyEv (342489)

• Rockingham, Australia

7 Jan 16

That might be it. They don't turn up unless the lake has water in it.

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Sharon

@simone10 (54187)

• Louisville, Kentucky

7 Jan 16

I would think they can smell the water but from so far away....not sure. That is a bit of a mystery.

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Judy Evans

@JudyEv (342489)

• Rockingham, Australia

7 Jan 16

There are still lots of natural behaviour that we don't understand.

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Sharon

@simone10 (54187)

• Louisville, Kentucky

8 Jan 16

@JudyEv That's very true. I think some of it is instinct but I don't think everything is. I've just seen too much to not think animals also have feelings toward each other, especially toward their young.

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Inlemay

@Inlemay (17713)

• South Africa

9 Jan 16

We get to see Pelicans in Namabia on a regular basis, quite an interesting sight always.

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Judy Evans

@JudyEv (342489)

• Rockingham, Australia

25 Aug 16

I missed replying to this somehow Lany. Sorry about that. This is a great shot.

Judy Evans

@JudyEv (342489)

• Rockingham, Australia

25 Aug 16

@JohnRoberts They certainly look lined up and ready for the 'off'.

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John Roberts

@JohnRoberts (109846)

• Los Angeles, California

24 Aug 16

They are lined up to race for food.

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DianneN

@DianneN (247184)

• United States

7 Jan 16

It must be instinct. I am watching the Pelicans feed right now, along with the Ospreys.

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DianneN

@DianneN (247184)

• United States

8 Jan 16

@JudyEv I love one osprey in particular. We named him, Orville, and he interacts with us every day. The others are his sons and mate.

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Judy Evans

@JudyEv (342489)

• Rockingham, Australia

7 Jan 16

Lucky you - and ospreys as well! Double lucky. :)

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Judy Evans

@JudyEv (342489)

• Rockingham, Australia

8 Jan 16

@DianneN How nice is that! It's great when something wild decides you're okay. I have a little skink who sits on the window-sill in front of where I'm working and he no longer runs away when I appear. I feel very privileged that he gives me even this amount of trust.

John Roberts

@JohnRoberts (109846)

• Los Angeles, California

24 Aug 16

Outstanding close up view of the pelican.

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Judy Evans

@JudyEv (342489)

• Rockingham, Australia

25 Aug 16

They are intriguing birds. Have you seen the photo of the 'dancing' pelicans? If you search (on MyLot) in 'tagged discussions' and type in 'birds dancing', the post should come up. It's a cute photo.

Silvermist

@silvermist (19702)

• India

7 Jan 16

@JudyEv I too do not have a theory as to how these birds find out about this lake and come there.But it is nice that you could watch all those beautiful birds.

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Judy Evans

@JudyEv (342489)

• Rockingham, Australia

7 Jan 16

We haven't been to Lake Eyre but I hope to go there one day. The pelican in the photo was near a caravan park we stayed in. They are beautiful birds.

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Jabo

@jaboUK (64354)

• United Kingdom

8 Jan 16

How interesting. when you say the pelicans come to feed - presumably there are plenty of fish in the lake?

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Judy Evans

@JudyEv (342489)

• Rockingham, Australia

8 Jan 16

There are fish in isolated pockets of water which multiply rapidly when the rains come. The birds only come with the rains so I guess it all works out supply and demand-wise.

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