[TV] Life

[karohemd]

Last nights bird's episode was again wonderful and fascinating.
It also contained a personal Wow, as the sequence on Chinstrap Penguins was filmed on Deception Island where I have been and photographed Chinstrap Penguins! I don't think many people can say that. :D
The bit about White Pelicans eatingswallowing whole gannet chicks was just a little bit scary as I'd previously thought they only ate fish. Only the chicks that are too big too swallow or are protected by their parents make it. o_O

ETA note: There's a video of a pelican eating a pigeon in the comments. Do not click it if you don't want to see a pigeon struggling to escape a pelican's throat for several minutes.

Comments

[ginasketch.livejournal.com]

The white pelicans in Hyde Park and Saint James' Park eat pigeons.

[karohemd.livejournal.com]

Wow...

[ginasketch.livejournal.com]

[karohemd.livejournal.com]

Holy shit! It could at least kill it first instead of waiting until it suffocates down its throat. o_O

[ginasketch.livejournal.com]

How would it kill it though? It has no teeth or talons or curved beak.

[karohemd.livejournal.com]

Like other birds kill fish, slap it against a hard surface to break its neck or at least stun it.
I half expected that pigeon to peck or scratch its way out of the pelican's neck as it was struggling.

Bloody hell. I'm usually not squeamish about these things (to eat and to be eaten is one of the principles of life) but this really disturbed me.

[ginasketch.livejournal.com]

They don't do that to fish either, they swallow them whole too.

I'm not disturbed by it- I find it funny. I think London may have finally found natural pigeon control.

[karohemd.livejournal.com]

Yeah but most fish usually go down without much of a fight and I guess suffocate rather quickly in the stomach.

Heh.
"Pigeon problem? Call Hire-A-Pelican today: 0-800-SWALLOW"

[professoryaffle.livejournal.com]

It won't do that though as it doesn't need to.

The Pelican is relatively unique it is abiltiy (at least in birds) in being able to swallow live whole prey, so it doesn't make the effort to kill it.

Other animals killing prey is more about making it plausible to eat rather than because they prefer to eat dead things.

[karohemd.livejournal.com]

*nods*
Still, I prefer my food not moving anymore when I swallow it.

[professoryaffle.livejournal.com]

certainly, I do too but that isn't really something that bothers a pelican

[karohemd.livejournal.com]

Quite remarkable, really.

[ginasketch.livejournal.com]

*looks at your edit.*

"See, because of me, now they have a warning."

[karohemd.livejournal.com]

Sorry, but I know people who freak out at such things so I put in the warning.

[ginasketch.livejournal.com]

Don't worry, I was quoting the Simpsons. :)