|
First, let's meet our fishermen -
the pelicans have come to love the fisherman since they regularly give the
pelicans some fish &/or scraps of fish.
(I have observed a
similar relationship between fishermen and pelicans in many places around
the world, and in the case of the Dalmatian Pelicans, it appears to be
helping them rebuild their population numbers.) |
|
Fisherman Thomas (and a rare bit
of sunlight) |
Gregory (Thomas's
son) |
|
Watching these pelicans fly
around following the fishermen was a hoot. They are large birds (~3m
wingspans), yet amazingly graceful (most of the time). |
|
"Water skiing" pelican :-)
|
Pair of pelicans; parallel departure
|
|
 |
|
|
|
 |
|
|
 |
|
The Dalmatian Pelicans in this
lake are wild birds and tended to be
a little bit skittish - swimming or flying away when approached by people.
However, they have come to know the fishermen and tended to be much
more tolerant of people around the fishermen and/or the fishing boats - especially if they
could tell that there
were fish nearby! |
|
As a result, Artie had to work
very hard to get us close to the pelicans :-)
|
Lake Kerkini - where long lenses
are optional! As are the boats ;-)
|
|
Of course, you did have to keep
an eye on the fish - if you didn't, the pelicans were sure to take advantage
of the opportunity!
|
George and Robert defending our
fish from a different batch of pelicans.
|
|
I just love their head
feathers...
|
...and punky "hair do's"
|
|
White Pelican (called Rosé
in Greece)
|
"Fish toss" - flipping it around to swallow it.
|
|
The weather was never really 'great' - I'd call it tolerable with a chilly,
damp
overcast most of the days - though it was nice not having to worry about sun
angle ;-)
On one of the more drab & dreary days, we ventured out into the snow to
photograph the Black-headed Gulls.
|
|
Ray
Are we having fun yet? ;-) |
Gerald pouring some hot coffee for Theo.
|
|
Gull in snow fall.
|
Black-headed Gulls at different
levels of maturity
|
|
The other aspect about these pelicans that was a hoot was their eagerness to
get a fish from the fisherman.
|
|
|
|
|
How I feel about chocolate ;-)
|
"Gimmee that fish!"
or
"Say 'Ahhh!'"
|
|
We reckon that the
fish these pelicans catch naturally must be a fraction of the size of what
they get from the fishermen which is why they get so excited when a
fisherman tosses a fish.
|
|
Did somebody say "Fish?!"
|
