Take flight with the pink-backed pelican in sight

THE pink-backed pelican is a uncommon resident found from the KZN South Coastal belt northwards through Mozambique. It is listed as a rare RDB bird.

They like coastal bays and estuaries and are seldom inland on larger rivers, marshes or floodplains. These pelicans fish up to 400 grams as their food source, especially bream.

They forage singly and are the only pelican species to perch in trees.

They are usually silent with guttural sounds around the breeding grounds. Breeding takes place from June to January. The nest is a platform of sticks in dense colonies in tall trees.

Usually three pale bluish eggs with a chalky white covering are laid. Incubation is 30 days and the nestling period is 84 days. Only one chick survives as the older kills the younger.

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The isiZulu name is iFuba and in Afrikaans die klein pelikaan.  

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