The pouch, however, is not permeable like a net, but is highly expansive and elastic. When the bird plunges its bill into the water the flexible lower mandible expands automatically into a broad oval scoop. As the pelican raises its head from the water the fish are trapped in the pouch. The pouch then contracts to its original shape and the upper mandible closes like a lid over the lower jaw, thus preventing the fish's escape. The prey is then swallowed whole, but can be transported long distances in the bird's gullet in a partially digested state.
Scoters are sea ducks that raft on the water and dive for food such as mullusks and crustaceans.
When searching for food, Herring Gulls fly around the countryside in loose groups, gathering to soar where there are updraughts along the hill-crests or on the windward side of a ship, and following promising sources of food such as a tractor pulling a plough or a trawler hauling its nets. Their long wings are adapted for easy, graceful flight and for soaring updraughts. They have moderately long legs and webbed feet and can swim easily on the surface of the water. They will plunge for food but do not dive deeply. Photo copyright 1996 by Paul Slichter Common egret Some egrets were brought to the verge of extinction by the plume trade early in the 20th century.