PELICAN ISLAND 



97 



ing k-r-r-r-nng stage to a high piercing scream in the down- 

 covered bird, to a dignified groan in the bird in flight plum- 

 age. The staten:ent in "Bird Studies with a Camera" that 

 after it has acquired the power of flight the young bird, like 

 the adult, is virtually voiceless, is an error, later observa- 

 tion sliowing tliat tlie high scream is largely a feeding note 

 which the fledged young utter at least as long as they receive 

 food from the parent. 



With the addition of 

 triplets to the Pelican 

 family, domestic prob- 

 lems became more com- 

 plicated and the opera- 

 tion — • I use the term 

 advisedly — of feeding is 

 the most remarkable 

 performance one will ol)- 

 serve on Pelican Island. 

 Prior to using a blind, I 

 had been unable to dis- 

 cover how the naked, 

 blind, squirming Pelican 

 of a day or two old was 

 fed by its great-billed 

 parent. But with the ut- 

 most ease the croaking, wol)bly little creature helped itself 

 to the predigested fish, which, regurgitated by the parent 

 into the front end of its pouch, was brought within reach of 

 its offspring. 



This method is followed until at the age of about three 

 weeks the young are covered with down, when, evidently 

 requiring a larger supply of food than their parents can 

 prepare for them, and no longer needing predigested nour- 

 ishment, they extend their feeding excursions into the throat 

 of the patient parent, finding there entire fish, which in some 

 inexplicable manner they generally swallow before with- 





" The croaking, wobbly little crea- 

 ture helped itself " 



