Pelicans in Taranaki

[Raptor]

We've got them now!

http://www.stuff.co.nz/taranaki-daily-n ... e-visitors

[sav]

Ha! How long before they make it to Foxton?? Anyone care to bet against that..............?
cheers

[boneywhitefoot]

hope they do yehaaa

[Paul Gibson]

I am in Patea, arrived river mouth at 9 am to be greeted by two pelicans taking flight, seen at very close range. By the time I parked and got my camera out they were high up so got some distant flight shots. These two birds headed south - maybe for Foxton! Where the other six birds went I don' t know. I met up with the Daily News and he showed me where the 8 birds were seen last night.! He has a number of photos as does another lady I met who arrived earlier this morning. She is going to send me some. Will post some photos later. So lets keep a watch on the estuaries around here. Paul Gibson

[SomesBirder]

No evidence of breeding yet, though?

[Clinton9]

I think these 8 pelicans are 2 to 3 years old, too young to breed, and just sight-seeing the coasts of New Zealand.

Let's hope the 6 pelicans are start to breeding in Far North, to add their numbers with 6 chicks which are not flying until February 2014.

[Clinton9]

Once last juvenile feathers are shed when Australian pelicans are 1 year old, they cannot be told from adult pelicans.
Adult and 1-year-old Australian pelicans replace all feathers, over 6-7 months moult.

I think Australian pelicans start to breed at 4 to 6 years old.

[Paul Gibson]

Here is a photo of the pelicans at Patea this morning. They were taken by Suzi Hurley (Hurley Pics - New Plymouth) who had the good luck of arriving there a couple of hours before me, and seeing the birds on the water. The birds are huge and they are around the South Taranaki/Wanganui coastline so we will be out tomorrow looking for them.

[David Lawrie]

It makes you wonder if these are the same birds that I reported the other day, rising on thermals and then heading south?
It would be good to know.

[Clinton9]

The pelican on right of photo is approaching its 3rd or 4th breeding season, the beak is just start to colour up.
But it is likely to wait until spring 2014 before breeding.
Left pelican proberly 2 or 3 year old and beak not colour up yet.