Watching the Pelican Feeding
at Ian Dipple Lagoon Labrador

Australian pelicans fascinate me!  They always have, from the first time I saw them from the beach in Mandurah, Western Australia swooping down and scooping up whitebait in their beaks and flying away with wriggling whitebait half in and half out!  It's just one of the those memories.

I see pelicans flying around most of the time.  Pelicans in flight are very graceful, almost majestic.

Australian Pelican flying

Pelican flying above the broadwater

Usually you can see one or two on the sandbars in the broadwater, or perched up in high in the trees or the lampposts. On any given day by midday more and more are appearing.

Pelicans on lamppost at Labrador.  Don't park or stand underneath!

You think that the feeding must be around the corner, but it doesn't happen until around 1.30pm! It is so funny to watch them jostling for position on the lamp posts.  There might be six birds sitting on the post and then you see another pelican flying around that obviously has it's sights set on that lamp post.

Pelican in flight looking for a place to land!

Wings outstretched in it comes.  Feet thrust forward ready for landing!  



A pelican landing is a hilarious at the best of times, but to see one have to abort the landing because those other four are NOT moving is just side splitting!  The flapping of wings by all the four, the sidestepping - if only I could talk pelican I reckon I'd learn some interesting new words!!!

View of the beach at Labrador whilst waiting for the pelican feeding.

As I said, I hadn't actually witnessed the pelican feeding at the lagoon until recently, but I have frequently seen the influx of birds waiting for the 1.30pm feeding.

Pelicans on Ian Dipple Lagoon waiting to be fed

As the time got closer a squadron of pelicans appears.  (Yes, I had to look that up, a group of pelicans is not a flock of pelicans but is in fact known as a squadron!)   Gradually the squadron flies down from the lamp posts.   They proceed to swim up and down the lagoon intimidating the swimmers!

At first the kids think it is funny to try to get close, but then come running back when they realise these aren't ducks!  These are huge birds, with very long and threatening looking beaks.

The Charis Seafood back doors open about 1.30pm and the bucket appears - I don't think they notice the person, just the food container.  All of a sudden these huge birds move together towards the shore and waddle up the beach.  


Chaos ensues! In the bucket is fish and squid remenants from Charis - but these birds don't care.  A fish carcass is tossed into the air and a beak or three move to catch it!  Unless the catch is a direct one and the whole carcass is inside the beak, a fight breaks out to get that food.  




Watching pelicans eating definitely won't help your children's table manners - but it is well worth a visit to watch this. Also a good excuse to have fish and chips at Charis or The Grand Hotel which is just opposite the lagoon. 

I really enjoyed seeing these wild pelicans so close.  For me it was a great opportunity to get these pelican photos and many more!  I hope you enjoy this collection of pelicans pictures from that day.  

I just couldn't help thinking these were pelicans in paradise!

So, do I have any tips for watching the pelican feeding at Labrador?  Well, just a couple!  Bring your camera, bring the sunscreen, hat and don't park your car under a lamp post or tree - seriously!  They can have a field day whilst waiting to be fed!

More Photos of Pelicans and the Pelican Feeding at Labrador