While Sea Lions have been the subject of many of our favorite snapshots our captains and passengers have taken in the Bay, there is far more wildlife to be seen and photographed here in the SDST backyard.
The subject of this photo and today’s highlight is the California Brown Pelican. These birds are frequently seen here in the San Diego bay, and throughout the Pacific. Previously listed as an endangered species, the Brown Pelican is now thriving thanks to the efforts of conservationists in the 1980’s and 90’s and the discontinued use of the pesticide DDT.
Pelicans are easily identifiable by their unique under-bill pouch. This pouch serves many purposes such as catching fish, cooling the pelican in the sun, attracting a mate, and carrying nesting materials. While the pouch and their enormous size make California Brown Pelicans stand out, they are most famous for taking death-defying dives at up to 40 mph to catch their dinner. The video below explains how Brown Pelicans are built to survive these high-speed collisions and shows you what to look out for when spotting these amazing birds on your next San Diego Bay sail.
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