Why Do Pelicans Scoop Fish with Their Big Bills?

What Crafty Clover says in this video

Intro

Hi there, curious minds! I'm Crafty Clover! Let's discover something amazing. Why do pelicans scoop fish with their big bills?

The Big Idea

Pelicans scoop fish with their big bills because the pouch works like a built-in net! It stretches wide and holds lots of water and fish. Then the pelican squeezes out the water and swallows the fish.

Big Pouch

Step one: the big pouch. A pelican has a big, stretchy pouch under its bill. The pouch can hold many liters of water, about as much as a big bucket!

Scoop and Drain

Step two: scoop and drain. The pelican scoops up water and fish together, sometimes while floating on the surface. Then it squeezes the water out the sides of its bill, tips its head up, and swallows the fish.

Fishing Teams

Step three: fishing teams. Some pelicans work in groups and herd fish together into the shallows. Pelicans on Canada's prairies swim and scoop in teams.

A Closer Look

Let's take a closer look! The pouch opens wide. It fills with water. The fish get trapped inside. Some pelicans swim in teams to scoop together. Dinner is served.

Quick Facts

Quick facts! Brown pelicans dive from the air to catch fish. American white pelicans are among the biggest birds in North America. A pelican's pouch is made of stretchy skin, and it shrinks back when it is empty. Watch pelicans from the shore, and never feed them.

Think Like a Scientist

Now, think like a scientist! Put some pebbles or dry beans in a tub of water. Scoop them up using a colander or strainer. What stays inside, and what drains out? That is what a pelican's pouch does.

Outro

A pelican's pouch is a stretchy fishing net. Science is amazing! Crafty Clover can be found on Amazon Books, Google Bookstore, and Apple Books. Available for purchase or download! Bye for now!