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Pelicans in Taranaki

Posted: Fri Dec 13, 2013 5:48 am
by Raptor

Re: Pelicans in Taranaki

Posted: Fri Dec 13, 2013 7:42 am
by sav
Ha! How long before they make it to Foxton?? Anyone care to bet against that..............?
cheers

Re: Pelicans in Taranaki

Posted: Fri Dec 13, 2013 7:55 am
by boneywhitefoot
hope they do yehaaa

Re: Pelicans in Taranaki

Posted: Fri Dec 13, 2013 10:04 am
by 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

Re: Pelicans in Taranaki

Posted: Fri Dec 13, 2013 11:12 am
by SomesBirder
No evidence of breeding yet, though?

Re: Pelicans in Taranaki

Posted: Fri Dec 13, 2013 12:18 pm
by 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.

Re: Pelicans in Taranaki

Posted: Fri Dec 13, 2013 12:23 pm
by 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.

Re: Pelicans in Taranaki

Posted: Fri Dec 13, 2013 12:58 pm
by 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.

Re: Pelicans in Taranaki

Posted: Fri Dec 13, 2013 1:57 pm
by 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.

Re: Pelicans in Taranaki

Posted: Fri Dec 13, 2013 2:02 pm
by 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.