pontiac1940
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Post by pontiac1940 on Apr 22, 2024 4:44:05 GMT
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Post by BuckSkin on Apr 22, 2024 5:07:18 GMT
Nice photos.
Does that rudder on their nose serve any purpose ?
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pontiac1940
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Post by pontiac1940 on Apr 22, 2024 5:12:52 GMT
Nice photos.
Does that rudder on their nose serve any purpose ? Apparently it is a sign of sexual maturity or mating readiness. They "fall off" by summer. |
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Post by BuckSkin on Apr 22, 2024 5:27:54 GMT
They "fall off" by summer.
Does another one grow back next year ?
Reason I ask is I am fairly certain there has been one on every one you have pictured. |
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pontiac1940
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Post by pontiac1940 on Apr 22, 2024 15:07:26 GMT
Reason I ask is I am fairly certain there has been one on every one you have pictured. It is spring and is or soon will be breeding season. So all of my recent photos show the bump. The pelicans here now are mostly transient ... they are heading north to breed. Some stick around all summer and it is not clear of they breed in the nearby river valley. There are two breeding areas only one to two-hour drive away and adults will fly a long way every day to feed. Some we see in summer might be just here in daytime to feed. The bump deteriorates and disappears in a few weeks and will grow back again next spring. These old photos show pelicans later in summer.    |
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Post by BuckSkin on Apr 23, 2024 6:19:44 GMT
Those are some awesome up close and personal Pelican photos.
Closer examination brings another question: Do they have two "mouths" ?
When that big pocket thing is open, there is a line under their beak that looks like they could still open their beak like a normal bird.
When that big pocket thing is closed, I can see two mouth lines.
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pontiac1940
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Post by pontiac1940 on Apr 24, 2024 2:32:32 GMT
No they have one mouth like everything else. But they do have an internal structure of some kind that allows them to close their throat off. I have some pictures of them where their mouths open and you can see the valve or cartilage or something that does this. It's quite odd sometimes. Most interesting
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