Dalmatian Pelican

The Dalmatian pelican, the largest of the pelicans, has a fishing technique perfectly adapted to its beak: with its water-permeable pouch, it captures fish like in a net. In groups, several pelicans gather in shallow water, encircle a school of fish, and drive it toward the shore. All the beaks open at once, and the fish are caught in the gular pouch. The water is then expelled, and the fish is swallowed headfirst.

The Dalmatian pelican saw its population decline in the 20th century, reduced to about a thousand pairs. Thanks to conservation efforts, it has increased to 10,000-14,000 individuals, but it remains threatened by fishermen, wetland drainage, depletion of fish stocks, pollution, and habitat destruction. Conservation programs, such as those led by the Noé Association and the Tour du Valat, include the creation of artificial nesting islands to protect colonies.