Australia’s pelican population is currently estimated at 300,000 and 50,000.

The Australian Pelican’s breeding sequence begins with courtship walks and swims. The female leads two to eight males across land and air until accompanied by only one. They are at least seasonally monogamous.

The Australian pelican has a bill of between 40 and 50 cm. Males are larger than females.

The bird’s bill pouch is used mainly as a ‘scoop net’ for catching small fish and shrimp, rarely for carrying them. The pouch is also used for catching rain. During courtship the pouch turns bright red, blue and orange.

Australian pelicans have a wingspan of between 2.3 and 2.5 m. Males can weigh up to 10 kg — less than 10% of which is attributed to the skeleton.

Pelicans are easily recognised by their bold, black and white markings, blue legs, enormous bill with pink pouch and yellow eye-rings. Males are larger than females.

For the first two weeks, chicks are fed up to eight times a day. At two months old they are nearly as large as the adults and first attempt to fly at three months.

Australian pelicans mostly feed in groups, cooperating to herd and enclose schools of fish, then swoop down on their trapped prey. Flocks of nearly 2000 birds have been sighted working together to feed.

In Australia the Pelican is widespread on freshwater, estuarine and marine wetlands and waterways including lakes, swamps, rivers, coastal islands and shores.

Pelicans are colonial breeders with up to 40,000 individuals grouping on islands or secluded shores. Breeding may occur at any time of year depending on environmental conditions, particularly rainfall.

The pelican is common throughout most of Australia and can be found in small numbers in Papua New Guinea, western Indonesia and the Western Pacific Islands.

Pelican chicks listen to their parents from the egg, so when they emerge they are able to identify their parents immediately.