Episode 106: Brown Pelicans Taking a Dive

Just watching a brown pelican in action reveals how fascinating they are as they hover over a water body and then suddenly take a crash dive, to surface with fish in their bills. It is one of nature’s more dramatic acts.

Author Rien Fertel joins Louisiana Life Executive Editor Errol Laborde, along with podcast producer Kelly Massicot to tell tales from his new book, “Brown Pelican” (LSU Press). We know it as the state bird but brown pelicans are also an ancient species with a rich influence of early legends and as a common religious symbol. This is an extraordinary interview about an incredible bird.

Oh yes, we will also hear how the brown pelican is different from its white counterpart including size, mating and fishing techniques.