Image provided by: University of Oregon Libraries; Eugene, OR
About Herald and news. (Klamath Falls, Or.) 1942-current | View Entire Issue (Feb. 24, 1963)
r BKis.4Kk.'W' --tffcmfimmi-'t'riyitf .iniiltinHi ti-rmrnimMMmn ini. Tr-,fr.!'w rMii iaiiFif fuMrm Ti-... tkt' " , i.; trr-iiiKn, !,- "T 'inri- r fa tiini nil ;VISE OLD BIRD The American White Pelican It shown here at close quarters. A ;dose inspection reveals the black-tipped quill feathers which identity this species in the ;I0 different families of pelicans; The long mandible on the mature pelican is from 3 The big, graceful while bird Cmt lias become Ihe symbol of (Clamalh Falls and the king of pie water fowl in this area bears an impressive title, "Pclicanus ferythrorhynchos." Actually, for convenience of. those of us who can't pronounce that long title, this amazing bird is known simply as the American White Pelican There are 10 species of pelicans nown to inhabit various areas! qf the world, but only three of Ciosn are known to live in tills (jounlry. t Two of these three are mari time species, inhabiting. the coasts ( Ihe southern states. Pelccanus Bicidcntalis is found on the At lantic Coast of tropical and sub tropical America. Hie general col or ol tins bird is mottled silvery : , -J .St I " PLCHTY OF PELICANS This view, one of many loaned for this story by the Klamath County Museum, was taken by R. H. Cook, Klamath f fs wore most ot the pelican, pictures at the museum. This view V-V. ... t. f ECDING TIME bnsiping over paits of Upper ehcan SJominates Hoca gray and brown, the top of the head is white and there is no crest on the beak. The Pclecanus Californicus is the representative on the Pacific Coast of the brown pelican which it closely resembles. Its head and neck are white, the general color being iilvery gray streaked with brown. It is found from the Gala pagos Islands as far north as British Columbia. The American While Pelican ranges from the Gulf Coast west ward into Canada and is common here on the Pacific Coast. With the exception of the black primary wing-quills and neighbor ing parts, the plumage is entirely' while, often wilh straw color on the breast. '1 he nest of the while ixilican is n rude heap of earth and trash ! ' V Pelicans oather for feeding.' In this view they may actually the events of the day. bul such qroups as this aro a familiar sight Klamath and Agency Lake. on which is laid, generally, a sin gle egg, although nests have been found with more. The eggs have a thick, chalky white shell. When the young are hatched, they are naked, but soon grow white down and later this be comes heavy plumage. The young pelican is a pink shade when born. While the pelican has become famous in this area with many structures named after him, and KUILS adopting him as its mas cot and nickname, the pelican actually has been famous since early times. Popularly accepted as a symbol of solitude and desolation, the pelican found a place in early Christian art. Popular fancy has ascribed the red lip at the end of its beak to blood drawn from t, j 12 to 14 inches lonq and sometimes there is a straw-colored feathered section on the head and on the breast, as one can see here. its own breast for the nourish ment of its young, and in ccclcsi astical symbolism it represents the church feeding her children with her life. Locally, the pelicans long have dominated Upper Klamath Lake and other waterways such as Clear Lake. They frequent the upper reaches of Agency Lake and range over all water in the area. Oftentimes they can be seen on Lake Ewauna near the Link River bridge, float ing calmly like a huge white battleship on the ocean. Another apparent favorite spot of the pelicans is the white rock at the tip of Bare Island on Upper Klamath Lake. Here one finds hundreds of pelicans at times. His long bill which is 14 to 18 ' ft- Vs V T shows a huge group of pelicans assembled area for the huge white bird. YOUNG PELICANS all. are shown qathered toqether around a rock in Upper KUmath Lake. An ungainly I looking youngster, the pelican develops into a proud, graceful master of the eir, ' inches long on lop has made him the subject of a humorous poem which also refers to the membraneous pouch under the lower bill. The mature pelican ranges from four to six feet in length and may have a wing spread from eight to nine feet. Two particular habits of the pelicans arc easily identifiable to the watcher. Especially during the warm summer months, one can sec large groups of pelicans, high in the sky, soaring around and around. Their large wings are heavily quilled and especially adapted to soaring like gliders. This appears to he one of the ports that pelicans enjoy very much. the other interesting habit of the pelicans is that of feeding. ,'' ' ' ' - "US' 1 Hi at Clear Lake, a favorite rd Life When feeding individually, they skim the surface of the water or dive beneath it, scooping up small fishes in their net - like pou h Then, after draining off the wa ter, they swallow them. Contrary to belief, they do not catch fish in their pouches and feed them to their young. Instead. Ihe pelican feeds the young on fish regurgitated from the crop. It is fascinating to watch them fish as a group. They form a long semicircle, each bird seeming to know his appointed place, then they start beating the water with their large wings. The fish, particularly chubs start rushing away from the noise, which is what the pelican wants. Slowly, they move their activities toward shore, forcing the fish ahead of them. In the shallow water they then begin to feed on the fish. Although it is said that the American White Pelican nests far to the north in summer and then moves to salt water districts the south in winter, while pelicans ran lie found in this area year round. One distinct feature found the American White Pelican not in others of the species is the rough horny crest that the male develops midway on Ihe top of the upper bill. This crest reaches about three inches at its highest, occurring at the peak of the breed ing period and is subsequently molted. Perhaps the biggest monument to the pelican in this area was the magnificent White Pelican Hotel which was a landmark of Mam- th Falls from its construction i 1911 until it was destroyed by (lames in !!Cti. Oldtimers maintain that t h e lieliran, however, has decreased consideraly in this area m recent years. While there are many peli cans in the area at times, espe cially summer, whether they are actually decreasing in number, is not known. A huge male pelican, once the symbol of the Pelican Bay Lum ber Company on Upper Klamath Ijike. is currently exhibited al the Klamath County Museum. Thi: stuffed specimen apparently was. captured during the peak of the breeding season since the horny crest is at its peak of about three inches. Yes. a majestic bird is Ihe peli can, whose beak can hold more lhan his "hellican." but in addi inn. I lie pelican is a w ise and bcaulitul bird, the proud symbol of Klamath rails. PAGE S-E HERALD AXD i BELIES THE FACTS While authorities on the pelicans Indicate that they generally lay a single egg with a thick chalky shell, here is a nest of five eggs made in the usual pelican fashion from mud. straw and debris. ' HATCHED OUT Five young pelicans huddle together on the beach. This sort of life Is all new and requires careful examination by the ungainly looking characters. ' . .... - v ? s' NEW OUTLOOK ON LIFE A pink shade, they quickly . ' mm r ijq " HEY, THEY WORK! These two young pelicans find that they can use their wingt for balance, and they prepare to step out on their own, for a little way anyway. v.r .... -, AN UNCOMMON SIGHT pelicans, mis view, noiir, is a view ?en quite a number ot years ago when peli cans appeared more plentiful on the waters of Upper Klamath Lake than they do to. dv. NEWS, Klimath FNi. Ore. These two baby pelicans survey the world around them. grow a crop of fuii and later ample feather protection. 1'.,' Jf- t. . - "v . 1 '"V, It's unusual, these days, to Sunday. February 24, 1963 f lit v 1 t see a gathering of this many vdl 1
