The Revenge of the Pelican: Not a happy ending

[Raj_55555]

Here's my brand new D100 in play again, just wish it ended a little better..
I was at the zoo just changing the lens from the 300mm to the 70mm.. And suddenly I heard a lot of noise in the nearby enclosure, luckily enough I didn't switch the lens yet, and ran off to get these shots. I forgot my bag with the other lens and my sx50 at the bench where I was sitting. I was fortunate that it wasn't stolen. It all happened very fast, and I was going full manual so a couple of them are oof.

#1. Saw this Big Goon of a Pelican suddenly go for the throat of this other smaller one without any provocation.

#2. The smaller one tried to swim away fast, but it held it by it's neck and tried to drown it.

#3. It kept the head below the water for quite some time before letting it go

#4. Even after the smaller one got away, pecks and bites continued mercilessly. It seems, from this picture, the smaller one has gone blind in the right eye.

#5. Here's the Victim, after the incident: Blind in the left eye too it seems.

#6. And here's the culprit, basking in its glory.

Sometimes mother nature can be cruel, I doubt the smaller would have survived long afterwards, as it seemed to have lost both its eyes. Sorry for the sad ending.

 

[mishele]

Great series and commentary. Mother nature is cruel, for sure. Survival of the fittest.

 

[baturn]

Looks like a territorial dispute went a little far. Nice captures under the circumstances.

 

[Raj_55555]

Great series and commentary. Mother nature is cruel, for sure. Survival of the fittest.

Thanks Mishele..

Looks like a territorial dispute went a little far. Nice captures under the circumstances.

Thanks Brian, a big thanks goes to my TPF friends for the gears.. Couldn't possibly have taken these shots with my older gears.

 

[IzzieK]

That was a heartbreaking story, Raj........

 

[TheNevadanStig]

Bullied pelican is not blind at all Raj, and it will most likely be fine. What you are seeing is the Nictating membrane. It's a third eyelid found in all birds. It is commonly used to help protect the eyes, and a lot of aquatic birds use them while underwater.
Heres a good example of the nictating membrane mid-blink in a hawk. Birds of prey use them for protection while killing and consuming:
DRW 191 by TheNevadanStig, on Flickr

And another showing off the third eyelid:
DRW 163 by TheNevadanStig, on Flickr

Sorry Raj, I never want to Hijack a thread with my own pictures, but feel like you might rest a little better knowing that the bullied pelican probably isn't blind. Between getting attacked and being held underwater, I'm sure it felt the need to keep that eye membrane closed for a good long while

 

[robbins.photo]

Nice shots Raj. Not to worry, pelicans have these little spats all the time

Sent from my LG-LG730 using Tapatalk

 

[FITBMX]

Those are some great shots!

 

[MartinCrabtree144 39]

Pelicans are a$%hole birds. I like birds but pelicans are just the bullies of the bird world.

Nice shots anyway Raj.

 

[Raj_55555]

Sorry Raj, I never want to Hijack a thread with my own pictures, but feel like you might rest a little better knowing that the bullied pelican probably isn't blind. Between getting attacked and being held underwater, I'm sure it felt the need to keep that eye membrane closed for a good long while

I hope you're right Jason, it sure feels better to know that I might be wrong. I thought he was blind specially because of image no. 4, it doesn't look like the Nictitating membrane but I so hope that you're right. And don't worry about posting pics in my threads Jason, everyone is welcome to do so and these are really nice ones

 

[Raj_55555]

Nice shots Raj. Not to worry, pelicans have these little spats all the time

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Thanks, I hope he's okay as Jason said. I'll keep an eye out for him next time I visit the zoo, shouldn't be too hard to locate.

Those are some great shots!

Thanks Gallagher

Pelicans are a$%hole birds. I like birds but pelicans are just the bullies of the bird world.

Nice shots anyway Raj.

I'd have to agree with that after seeing what I saw.. But you seem especially pissed at them, any specific reason?
Thanks Martin

 

[DarkShadow]

Nice capture of events.Not so nice for one pelican.

 

[Raj_55555]

Nice capture of events.Not so nice for one pelican.

Yes, unfortunate! Thanks David

 

[JustJazzie]

What a story! I think #4 and 6 are my favorites. Glad no one grabbed your stuff. I got lucky yesterday myself. I was using DH car and it's got an automatic tailgate. I shut my photo stuff in the car and went back to the park. Apparently something was blocking the door from latching so it looked like it shut, then popped back up after I walked away. All my gear was there for the taking for at least 45 mins. Thank goodness it was pouring rain or the outcome may have been different.

 

[Raj_55555]

What a story! I think #4 and 6 are my favorites. Glad no one grabbed your stuff. I got lucky yesterday myself. I was using DH car and it's got an automatic tailgate. I shut my photo stuff in the car and went back to the park. Apparently something was blocking the door from latching so it looked like it shut, then popped back up after I walked away. All my gear was there for the taking for at least 45 mins. Thank goodness it was pouring rain or the outcome may have been different.

45 minutes? Wow! I can bet it wouldn't have lasted that long here I'm glad you still got your gears though! Thanks Jazzie