Daily capital journal. (Salem, Oregon) 1903-1919, 1910-06-16
PASSING OF
THE PELICAN
INTERESTING ACCOUNT OF A
BIRD THAT WILL SOON DIsAP-
PEAR FhoM THE MATTERS OF
THE WEST.

(Wm. L. Finley, in Golfers Weekly
About us on every side is stretched
a sea of tules. For four weeks we
had been exploring a small portion
of the klamath country that lies in
Southern Oregon and Northern Cali
fornia. For days we had followed
the winding channels that flow be-
tween thousands of tule islands, and
at last we were camped on the edge
of great Venice of bird cities.
The next day about noon / was ly-
ing in camp watching pair of avo-
Gets that were wading along, swing
ing their long bills from side to side
in the mud as reaper swings his
scythe. Suddenly heard distant
roaring sound that was coming near
er, like the approach of a storm.
jumped up, expecting to see black
clouds arising from the south. An
other peal of thunder followed rapid
ly and another. And, as looked,
saw big white pelican toboganing
out of the heavens like a meteor.
leaving a trail of thunder at its tail.
The Colony a Wonderful Sight.
In the days that followed 1 often
watched the promenade of the white
pelicans. After the night shift re-
turned from the feeding ground and
the young birds had breakfasted,
their parents sat around for two or
three hours summing themselves.
Then they began rising from the
colony, swinging around in big cir
cles, higher and higher, until in half
an hour the whole band looked like
a furry of snowflakes in the clear
blue sky The eye soon lost sight of
the birds entirely, except as the sus
was reflected in faint flashes from
the snowy breasts After two or
three hours the promenade was end
ed by the birds descending with
rigid, half-closed wings.
The marsh with all it's mysteries
has no other sight to compare with
the white pelican. 1t is almost twice
as large as the brown pelican. With
its eight or nine feet of wings and
weight of Is to 16 pounds it rises
with difficulty from the surface of
the water, kicking with it's feet to get
start and leaving trail of little
splashes in the wake. When once
aloft, it floats with little effort.
The experience of the past decade
shows that the white pelican is
doomed to go as the buffalo has gone
and as the antelope is going. Even
If it is protected, the reclaiming of
some of our lakes, such as Malheur
lake in Southern Oregon, the Lower
klamath, lying on the border be-
tween Oregon and California, and
Pyramid lake in Nevada, may in
time destroy some of the largest
colonies that exist.
The pelican has a large skinny bag
that hangs from the lower part of
his bill. This, when distended, holds
several quarts of water. When not
in use this sack is contracted so it |
occupies very little space. The white
pelican uses this as a dip-net swim
ming along and scooping up the
young fry. 1t was formerly thought |
that this pouch served to convey live |
fish swimming. in water to the little
pelicans at home, but, as Audubon
remarked long ago, it is doubtful
whether a pelican could fly at all
with his burden so out of trim.
One might think the pelican was
heavy and too clumsy to make n
good fisher, but the brown pelican
is as expert as a kingfisher at div
ing, From a height of 80 or 40 feet,
he drops into a school of small fish
and rises to the surface with pouch
filled with fish and water. AS the
diver stretches his neck and draws
his bill straight up. the water runs
"AN anu Nht WhbAS NdtNll - bWbllOW-
ed with one gulp.
Through the western part of the
United States the pelican season be-
gins In April after the snow and ice
have melted, and lasts until August
or September, when the young are
able to care for themselves, Some
time one win find eggs Just Matching
from May up tin July. The pelican
generally lays twosor three eggs, and
ineubates about four weeks before
they hatch,
Not Handsome.
The first time ever saw a motley
crowd OF half-grown pelieans /
thought nature had surely done her
best to make something ugly and RI
dioulous Il was warm day and
the birds stood around with their
mouths open, painting like lot of
dogs after chase. their pouches
shaken at every breath When I
went near, the youngsters went tot
l. !