Australian Pelican

Description:

The Australian Pelican is a large waterbird of the family Pelecanidae. It is a predominantly white bird with black wings and a pink bill. It has been recorded as having the longest bill of any living bird. It mainly eats fish, but will also consume birds and scavenges for scraps. I've actually seen one eat a turtle, and have heard of two cases where small dogs have been taken at beach locations. True!

Habitat:

Australian Pelicans occur primarily in large expanses of open water without dense aquatic vegetation. The habitats that can support them include large lakes, reservoirs, billabongs and rivers, as well as estuaries, swamps, temporarily flooded areas in arid zones, drainage channels in farmland, saltplans and coastal lagoons.

Notes:

This Pelican was spotted at the lake on the University of Queensland Campus. It's a fantastic spot for waterbirds of all varieties, and is just across the river from my home. Worth another visit. In fact, many more visits. http://www.uq.edu.au/sustainability/uq-s...