Since 1927 every state in the USA has his own bird as a symbol. Seal of Louisiana (public domain image on Wikipedia). The Brown Pelican is a smaller sized pelican as far as pelican go and is one of only two that will dive to feed. L. & E. VOLUME VII. When it spots a fish, it swoops down and scoops it up into its beak. State oath. Louisiana State Bird: Brown Pelican (Pelecanus occidentalis) your own Pins on Pinterest It has webbed feet, and is an excellent swimmer. It weighs between 5 to 8 pounds (3 to 5 kg), sometimes more. If you have a picture of such a bird (can be taken worldwide !) On July 26, 1966, an amendment was brought about, making the brown pelican the official state bird of Louisiana. Well, we're looking for good writers who want to spread the word. Louisiana's official nickname is "The Pelican State" and the brown pelican appears on Louisiana's state flag, state seal, the state painting (along with many other symbols and icons of Louisiana), and is one of three Louisiana symbols displayed on the U.S. mint's bicentennial quarter. State Bird of Louisiana. The brown pelican is the official state bird of Louisiana. The nominate subspecies in its breeding plumage has a white head with a yellowish wash on the crown. Brown pelicans, the Louisiana state bird, resting on a trawl net, Isle de Jean Charles. All these efforts have paid off, as there are now more than 6,00,000 brown pelicans in the wild, with more than 40,000 pairs found in Louisiana. It is indeed a blessing to the planet that it was saved from extinction, otherwise we would have missed out on something truly marvelous. It is the only dark pelican, and also the only one that plunges from the air into the water to catch its food. A northern mockingbird (mimus polyglottos) by University Lake at Louisiana … When a female selects a male, the nest-making process begins. The brown pelican’s legs are very small in proportion to its body, giving it a clumsy look. The brown pelican’s legs are very small in proportion to its body, giving it a clumsy look. You also have the option to opt-out of these cookies. Affordable and search from millions of royalty free images, photos and vectors. In 1958, it was legally adopted as the state bird. This website uses cookies to improve your experience while you navigate through the website. Although its predators in the wild are very few, the brown pelican is sometimes preyed on by seagulls, stray cats or dogs, alligators, sharks, raccoons, sea lions, skunks, etc. We also use third-party cookies that help us analyze and understand how you use this website. The state bird of Louisiana is unique among the world's seven species of pelicans. By John James Audubon, F. R. SS. Pesticide use caused pelicans to stop nesting along the Louisiana coast in 1961, and they completely disappeared by 1966. Approximately 160 species of birds are year-round residents or probable confirmed breeders in Louisiana and another 244 are known to regularly migrate through or winter in the state or its immediate adjacent waters. The brown pelican is a very large water bird admired for its social and playful behavior. Would you like to write for us? The pelican was a favorite of the people of Louisiana because of the way it raised its young ones. We hope you enjoy this website. This category only includes cookies that ensures basic functionalities and security features of the website. The following paragraphs provide some more information about this fascinating bird. The body of this bird has air pouches all throughout, which gives it buoyancy and does not let it drown while hunting. Its unique characteristics make it an interesting creature. It is also found in Chile, Venezuela, the Galapagos Islands, Trinidad, and as far as British Columbia and Nova Scotia. The brown pelican was adopted as the state bird of Louisiana, and it features on the official state seal. It is found abundantly today, but faced near extinction, had it not been for the efforts of some people. The brown pelican is a completely marine species. About 40,000 brown pelicans call "The Pelican State" their home today. It is the smallest in the pelican family, though still relatively large for a bird. On July 26, 1966, an amendment was brought about, making the. BATON ROUGE, La. These cookies do not store any personal information. It is found in areas like lagoons, marinas, estuaries, bays―basically shallow waters. All Birds. Claiborne, used the pelican on the official documents of the state during his term. Official state symbols, emblems, and icons of Louisiana - places to see in Louisiana - landmarks, parks, historic markers, cities and towns - learn the culture and history of Louisiana! the official state bird of Louisiana. Other pesticides were ingested by the birds via the fish they ate, causing poisoning and death in large numbers. The selection of state birds began in 1927, when the legislatures for Alabama, Florida, … Once the water is drained, the bird tilts its head back and swallows the fish whole. It leans in various directions and preens its feathers using its long beak. By Associated Press , … The Louisiana quarter features the state bird (brown pelican), a musical symbol for New Orleans Jazz, and an outline of the original Louisiana purchase (public domain image on Wikipedia). 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