FAMILY PELECANIDAE 53 



Isla Urava, islets near Isla Taboguilla, and Isla Taboga, in Panama 

 Bay. 



The brown pelican is one of the most prominent of the sea birds of 

 the Republic, seen constantly along beaches, and found over the open 

 sea among the islands, often to the number of hundreds. Flocks fly 

 in procession over the water, alternately flapping the wings and sailing, 

 in this following the pattern of the one in the lead, so that the 

 change in method of progression flows ripplelike back over the line. 

 Often the birds fly low, almost touching the water, at the proper 

 point over the crest of a long roller where they are aided in 

 support by up draft in the air currents, and so progress with a 

 minimum of effort. 



When fish are sighted the birds dive instantly. The neck is extended 

 before reaching the water and the birds submerge completely. Then 

 usually they turn so that as they rise to the surface they face in the 

 direction opposite to that in which they had been flying. If a fish 

 has been captured the bird floats with the tip of the bill down to 

 drain the pouch, when the head is thrown up and the fish swallowed 

 with a gulp. When the pouch is especially full it may be pressed 

 back against the neck to accelerate the flow of water. Often a 

 laughing gull is in attendance to snatch at the food if at all possible, 

 a thievery to which the pelican pays no attention. 



In another method of fishing, usually in shallow water, the birds 

 swim with the tip of the bill cutting the surface, and as fish are 

 sighted thrust suddenly at them. Young birds, perhaps not yet fully 

 skilled in diving, often feed by this method in deep water. Where 

 schools of fish remain stationary, pelicans, young and old, rest on 

 the water in close flocks, stabbing at their prey with open bills. 



When satisfied they rest in groups, on rocks, or in trees or bushes. 

 Frequently they remain thus at low water, to become more active 

 with change in the tide. On various occasions I have found them 

 fishing at night, even when there was little light. 



Pelicans pass constantly across the isthmus, commonly over Gatun 

 Lake, and regularly at other points. The common belief that they 

 have learned to fly the trans-isthmian route by following the canal 

 since it was completed has no foundation. Napoleon Garella (Project 

 Canal travers Istme Panama, 1845, p. 73), who made a survey for a 

 possible canal route in 1844, mentioned pelicans crossing between 

 the head waters of the Rio Caimito of the Pacific side, and the Rio 

 Paja, tributary to the Rio Chagres of the Atlantic slope, and cited 

 their flights to support his location of this pass as the lowest point 



