20th Annual Smithsonian Magazine Photo Contest Natural World
Brown Pelican Fishing

This image captures one of the fishing techniques employed by brown pelicans. Their best-known strategy if diving down into the water from above, but they will also utilize a more horizontal approach. In this manner, the birds fly just over the surface of the water for short distances and thrust their heads sideways into the water to capture fish.

Photo Detail
Date Taken: 10.2022
Date Uploaded: 11.2022
Photo Location: Crawfordville, Florida, United States of America
Camera: Canon EOS-1D X Mark II
Copyright: © Loren Merrill