Subscriber Comments for
Pelicans are Surfers Too

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COMMENT 74773	2010-05-10 07:28 AM
Lovely! Pelicans do seem to surf the air. They're fascinating birds. And seagulls were thought to be soul-birds, incorporating the spirits of fishermen and sailors, especially, drowned seamen. I wonder if the belief continues. My 5-year-old web site, pelicanlife that started as a web design class project and needing a stylistic overhaul, has more on pelicans.
COMMENT 74783	2010-05-10 08:17 AM
Those are great pictures. These birds are amazing to watch in their natural flight. I wish I could agree that they may be in any way comparable to surfers, but there are just too many different kinds of people surfing these days, and while my traditional stereotype for the 'surfer' was that of a person with at least some appreciation for the ocean/beach environment, in the past couple of years I have encountered some really lousy, ignorant, and careless individuals who, unfortunately, could also be categorized as surfers. I have witnessed 'surfers' out by the sand spit at the harbor terrorizing pelicans and laughing about it, and during one incident when I asked them to stop, they proceeded to purposely chase a bird with a broken wing that couldn't fly away. I have witnessed them walk right by a cormorant with a broken wing that was drowning in the surf because he was too weak to pull himself out of the water. There are numerous stories I could tell of 'surfers' behaving like scumbags towards the local wildlife, and so I have to say that I do believe that seabirds are far too noble to be associated with many of the human souls I have come to know as ‘surfers’. The photos are really beautiful though, as well as your appreciation for these fabulous creatures. Thanks!
BOOKLADY	2010-05-10 11:00 AM
Beautiful pictures! Thank you for sharing.
THE BARRON	2010-05-10 12:17 PM
Awesome pictures. What kind of camera / lens & setting did you use? Any enhancements on the final images? Super!
COMMENT 74854P	2010-05-10 02:20 PM
@74783: disgusting --- not you, for sharing the stories, but that people, some people, are so cold and cruel. Not all fishermen are kind and seagull personalities are quite me,me,me, mine,mine,mine -- but so are many of us. Thinking the gulls and storm petrels were soul-birds gained them a bit more respect. We have no choice on our afterlife, if any; those present, surfing or not, do. May those you describe be reincarnated as those they scorn, broken winged seabirds, or perhaps as sea slugs although they, too, deserve respect. I wish the sandspit were closed to all but boaters so that the birds would have some place a little safe.
POWDRELL	2010-05-10 05:11 PM
To comment 74783: I'm bummed that you've had some bad experiences with surfers. My experience with surfers over the past 41 years is that the real surfers value their environment, take steps to ensure a clean ocean, value the marine life and all the critters associated with the ocean. I'm guessing you stumbled into some wanna-be's that need some serious corrective actions. The Barron: Thank you. I'm using a Canon EOS Digital Rebel XT, shooting at 1/1600 sec., at f/7.1 with a 300 mm lens. Cropped, straightened the horizon lines, and added a hint of saturation. Thanks again.
POWDRELL	2010-05-10 05:16 PM
Betsy, Your website at www.pelicanlife.org is excellent. Thanks for sharing that. David
COMMENT 74911P	2010-05-10 06:14 PM
Love # 5. It almost makes me dizzy. If you get top billing tomorrow morning, I'm betting that's the photo. Very cool, thank you for sharing.
COMMENT 74917	2010-05-10 07:29 PM
Very nice shots David. The third picture with the upswept feathers on the wingtips of Mr.Pelican are realy cool. I wonder if the person who invented winglets on aircraft slole the idea from these guys. Only three to each side but they must be important. Thanks for sharing.
COMMENT 74922	2010-05-10 07:36 PM
That has to be fun for the bird. I have often wondered if birds think flying is fun. Do all animals have fun?
COMMENT 74922	2010-05-10 07:40 PM
Greatest subject matter I have seen in awhile. The design of the birds is just fabulous. The 1000's of years of evolution....Absolutely beautiful. Very well done. Very talented and patient photographer.
COMMENT 74911P	2010-05-11 09:27 AM
Beautiful pictures David. I spent a bit more time watching the pelicans flying this morning! They really are amazing and graceful. Thanks for the refreshing take on things!
COMMENT 75043	2010-05-11 01:14 PM
Pelicans just look like little flying dinosaurs to me. Everyone has already said it but I gotta reiterate: These are fantastic!. Thanks for sharing.
COMMENT 75057	2010-05-11 01:55 PM
I always appreciate your unique view of the life that surrounds us, so amazingly captured. I live not-too-far away, but rarely see what you see...just as John Wiley, Dan Seibert, and Betsey Kramer, to name only a few, catch a world all around me that I would not know existed. Thanks, all, for so beautifully sharing your vision!
COMMENT 78869	2010-05-28 05:31 PM
The Pelican's search for the perfect trim position, feeding on that updraft from the wave face is reminecent of surfers with that style agreed. The way the wingtip will lightly skim the surface like the fingertips of a wave glider. But yea, a good number of surfers suck, they are still people. But some are a collection of the most real people on earth.

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