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Death is stalking the pelicans of America’s West Coast. By the hundreds, they’ve literally been falling from the sky, only to wind up disoriented in parking lots, people’s yards, and freeways where more and more are being struck by cars. Ornithologists are baffled: the pelicans’ swollen feet seems consistent with domoic-acid poisoning — an ocean toxin that sometimes affects sea birds and mammals — but the acid hasn’t been found in significant levels in recent seawater tests. Other symptoms don’t match up.
Some people say it’s karma; that the birds are “only getting what they deserve.” My friend Jackson Landers, an amateur ornithologist and longtime anti-pelican activist, writes: “a large proportion of pelicans are child molesters. They attack chicks in nesting colonies, forcibly separating them from the others before raping them. This is not a joke. Ornithologists refer to this as ‘forced copulations with nestlings.’”
That sounded so wild I had to look it up. He is, as it turns out, not kidding. From an article in The Wilson Journal of Ornithology:
We defined forced copulations (FC) with chicks as any interaction during which an adult attempted to mount, or actually mounted and copulated with, an unfledged nestling. In all FCs, nestlings appeared to resist the actions of adults by struggling not to be pinned and attempting to escape and/or dislodge the adult during copulation motions.
… [Observed pelicans] sought out an isolated chick that was not part of a pod, and violently jabbing and biting it. The adult then forced the chick to the ground and pinned it by the neck or back of the head using its bill, followed by attempted mounting and/or copulation movements lasting approximately 15-30 sec.
Fledged juveniles may be mistaken for adult females in some species, but there is no obvious adaptive explanation for forced copulations with unfledged chicks. The motivation for forced copulation with unfledged chicks is therefore unclear.
I’ve got a motivation for you: pelicans are jerks. Another example: something like 80% of pelicans are guilty of either fratricide or infanticide. When pelican parents make a nest and lay eggs, several may hatch, but in most cases pelicans only ever intend to raise one chick. The other eggs are a form of “insurance,” and once a dominant chick is identified — usually by the stronger chick attacking the weaker — the parents will begin selectively feeding their children, starving the weak one. Known as “hatching asynchrony” to ornithologists, and murder to people with a conscience, it involves the weaker chick eventually being pushed out of the nest, if not killed outright.
It’s time for some video evidence. Landers writes, “If you have any remaining doubts about the inherent evilness of pelicans, I refer you to the following video of a pelican strolling about in a London park with a number of pigeons and ducks in a most companionable way, before suddenly seizing one of his fellows and swallowing the struggling bird whole. Obviously I’m all in favor of predation but this seems more in the manner of a betrayal.”
And as if that weren’t enough, then there’s the cat-biting. To wit:
Some will say that mankind cannot impose its morality on the animal kingdom; others maintain that these sick pelicans deserve their cruel fate. We are merely presenting the facts — what do you think?
Comments (34)
Comment
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While I am normally on the side of not imposing human qualities to animals (thank you Cesar Milan)- these pelicans must die. They are full of evil, and it would appear that they want to put their evil in young pelicans. It’s a vicious cycle.
posted by Justin on 1-12-2009 at 11:31 am
This whole post is one big “WTF”?
Maybe the birds are randomly falling ill because of Post Traumatic Stress Disorder? They just need some Prozac and a little therapy…
posted by mandragora on 1-12-2009 at 12:05 pm
Although it sounds quite cruel, fratricide and infanticide is a common tactic used among many species to ensure the survival of the strongest offspring and thus strengthening the gene pool. Ofter times, there just is not enough food to feed more than one offspring which leaves the parents with a choice; feed the strongest to ensure its survival or feed them all, leaving them with little chance of survival. Human morality cannot be applied to these pelicans, as they are just doing what they have been doing for generations which have resulted in them being a somewhat successful species. Also, they have no clue of what ethics or morality is, so they couldn’t even follow it if they wanted to.
posted by Mortal Light on 1-12-2009 at 12:08 pm
I will stay away from anthropomorphism so it comes down to natural selection and it sounds like KARMA is in charge of selection for pelicans!!
posted by JaneM on 1-12-2009 at 12:18 pm
After watching nature documentaries and reading stuff like this, I’m no longer shocked or disgusted by actions like this from animals. It’s a different world, and whatever cruel things man can come up with, nature has already matched (if not beaten) it.
posted by Rob on 1-12-2009 at 12:18 pm
Hey, Ransom, you’re right. Any adult animal who would forcibly rape or kill a defenseless baby/child should be eliminated from the life cycle? How about we start in our own species and then worry about the others?
posted by toddes on 1-12-2009 at 12:22 pm
Yup, sounds like a karmic affliction, although I regard pigeon poaching and kitty crimping as admirable attributes.
In North Dakota, flocks of white pelicans have abandoned breeding grounds completely on occasion, for no reason known to wildlife biologists. There is still much to be learned about these modern day pterodactyls. I can understand their lack of self esteem, though. You have to be pretty hungry to pilfer a pigeon.
posted by Tom on 1-12-2009 at 12:39 pm
“amateur ornithologist and longtime anti-pelican activist”
Yay. Great. Now all the somewhat-justified birding hatred for non-native species like Starlings and House Sparrows can be applied to native species. >sighsigh again
posted by Kirk on 1-12-2009 at 1:04 pm
Humans rape children. Humans comsume other animals while they are still alive and struggling. Humans kill people who they have a bond with. Humans kill their own offspring.
If all pelicans deserve to die, then all humans do too.
posted by Lola on 1-12-2009 at 1:10 pm
I don’t think it’s just the west coast, on our trip to the Outer Banks (NC) last September, we saw an awful lot of dead pelicans on the bridges, apparently hit by cars.
posted by Julie on 1-12-2009 at 1:20 pm
Anyone sincerely invoking “evil” or “karma” in relation to this situation is dumber than my shoe.
posted by firedmyass on 1-12-2009 at 1:41 pm
I found the article interesting… just for the mere fact that humans tend to anthropomorphize animals and give them qualities based on their appearance or behavior. Pelicans are nasty birds, not at all like the one in Finding Nemo that helped Marlon and Dory get away from the Seagulls :) However, nature likes to experiment and the animals that dominate-fit best into their environment, find food/mating partners, and get a place to raise their young- win. Is there a rationale for the non-fledged chick copulation behavior? We can’t wrap our heads around it – and I think it may be something that we find difficult due to western morality (BTW not all western morals are bad! don’t shoot! ) Maybe pelicans get bored – I mean chimpanzees fling poo, eat the young of rival tribes or mothers in their own bands, tom cats kill the kittens of rival toms if they wish to mate with the queens. Is it evil? It certainly is disturbing to humans and disruptive in the eyes of western society that tries to live up to the belief of living peacefully with the neighbors. However, this is a pelican being a pelican… the eating, pooping and humping machines with wings!
posted by Sarah C. on 1-12-2009 at 4:16 pm
i normally don’t have a lot of sympathy for animals that poop on my car, but poor baby seagulls! thats awful.
posted by tiffany on 1-12-2009 at 5:35 pm
Mortal Light,
What sets pelicans apart from any other examples of fratricide among vertebrates that I am aware of is that fact that it happens regardless of the availability of food. I’ve seen eagles that do the same thing, but only when they are starving and are forced to choose between raising one chick to adulthood or losing both of them.
Human morality most certainly *can* be applied to pelicans. Look, I just did exactly that. Fait accompli, eh? I think that what you mean is that human morality *shouldn’t* be applied to them, which would be a lot easier for you to argue.
We all (myself included) like to make the case for wolves and elephants and other such animals by pointing out their very human-like social behavior and praising the way that their entire group regards and cares for the young. This behavior is constantly used as a case for the protection of elephants and wolves. Ok, then logically what should we have to say when a species exhibits the opposite behavior? If wolves are good because the whole pack helps to feed and teach the cubs of one mother, then doesn’t that suggest that pelicans are bad when they rape and attack the chicks of other flock members?
I think that we apply human morality to animals when it proves convenient to our policy aims and then we abandon the model when it ceases to be so convenient. It’s the hypocrisy that annoys me.
posted by Jackson Landers on 1-12-2009 at 5:44 pm
I can’t think of a more fitting Louisana mascot
posted by Bobby B on 1-12-2009 at 5:58 pm
I think the best thing to do in this situation is be grateful you aren’t a pelican.
posted by Allison on 1-12-2009 at 7:25 pm
omg… wtf… And who the hell cares about pelicans anyway? I agree with the guy who said we should start with our own kind. Get our noses out of the birds arse and concentrrate on what is important… Anti-pelican activist… As if human kind wasn’t rediculous enough is it is.
posted by kinu on 1-13-2009 at 3:40 am
Apparently we should be even more grateful we aren’t pigeons.
posted by Rhonda on 1-13-2009 at 4:05 am
It’s bad enough trying to impose our American/Western morality on other countries, but now we are trying to impose it on the entire animal kingdom? What’s next, controlling the mating of black widows so that the females don’t eat the males?
posted by David Miles on 1-13-2009 at 8:12 am
Is this some poor attempt at farce?
If so, apologize.
If not… Get a grip! They’re animals.
posted by BassMan on 1-13-2009 at 8:29 am
Pelicans are child molesters and Dolphins are rapists. Oh, MF, what other cruel animal knowledge do you have for me?
catchpa: First Mason a hint for the next article?
posted by Lorelei on 1-13-2009 at 8:42 am
Dolphins are just as cruel. They are widely known to kill young by using their sonar to find vital organs and beating them to death. They also routinely kidnap and rape female dolphins. What bothers me so much about dolphins is that everyone thinks their so freakin’ cute. At least the Pelican shows his true colors.
posted by Sarah M. on 1-13-2009 at 9:24 am
I’ve never liked birds, of any kind. This is just one more reason….
posted by Lauren on 1-13-2009 at 9:47 am
I thought this article was disturbing and funny at the same time. If I become an anti-pellican activist do I get a badge or card of some sort?
posted by Emily on 1-13-2009 at 9:55 am
I do believe the article states that they are just reporting the facts. It is not attempting to sway one in any direction. We already know there are a lot of freaks looking for a cause and any 2 people will disagree on something. Before you get violent remember – Never argue with a fool or it will be hard to say which is the fool.
posted by Kev in GA on 1-13-2009 at 10:22 am
I can’t believe you guys are siding with the pelicans.
posted by Ransom Riggs on 1-13-2009 at 10:46 am
I can’t believe you could be serious.
posted by BassMan on 1-13-2009 at 12:05 pm
You knew it was coming, didn’t you?
A wonderful bird is the pelican, whose beak will hold more than his belican.
With apologies to Walt Whitman, I would add:
He is rude to his brood, unspeakably crude. On the blogs, when it’s time to raise helican
posted by Tom on 1-13-2009 at 12:39 pm
This reminds me of a theory discussed in Michael Chriton’s The Lost World. It states that extinction may not only be driven by outside influences, but by a pattern of maladaptive behavior. I think the lesson in this article is that if these behaviors in pelicans really are maladaptive, and if they are really causing pelicans to die inexplicably, that is all the more reason to keep OUR species to some sort of moral code.
posted by Colby on 1-13-2009 at 2:25 pm
I am in utter disbelief of this article and the reactions. Sure some pelicans are rapists, but not all are. I am dumbfounded there are those of you are willing to stereotype all Pelicans for the devious actions of some. I find it disgusting to see these anti-pelican generalizations attributed to an entire species.
Has any one thought maybe these pelicans were abused as little pelicans?
Maybe they need counseling.
If the evil actions Mr. Ransom speaks of are true, then maybe there should be a pelican court where offending pelicans are tried for thier crimes and sentenced accordingly. After all these are AMERICAN pelicans and they too are innocent until proven guilty.
posted by Florida on 1-13-2009 at 4:28 pm
How egotistical of us to to think animals should adhere to our “upstanding moral qualities”
Maybe you should take a look around and see how well we treat our own weak and hungry. I saw a little girl sleeping on a piece of cardboard on a downtown street just a couple days ago. This occurs even as we continue to spend billions on a war that can never be “won” because nobody really understands what is going on there.
Pull your head out of that dark sunless orofice and get a grip on reality. What pelicans do to each other doesn’t mean a damn thing when measured against that one little girl sleeping on cardboard. Now multiply that little girl by the hundred thousand or so homeless in just our country and tell me again why we are so damn worried about pelicans?!?!?!
Idiots!!
posted by Doug K on 1-13-2009 at 5:10 pm
Doug K.,
Let me ask you something; would you send angry emails to the American Heart Association for failing to take action against AIDS in Africa?
In that vein, do you ever watch television? Have you read a book lately? Watched the sun set? How DARE you watch television or read a book when there are homeless people sleeping on cardboard! Now tell me how it is exactly that it’s ok for you to read a book while something bad is happening in the world but it’s not ok for Ransom and the rest of us to spend 5 minutes making fun of pelicans?
Meanwhile, you were the one who saw the little girl sleeping on cardboard. Not me. Did you invite her family to sleep in your living room? Unless they are sitting on your couch right now, I gently suggest that you stop throwing stones at anyone else.
Homelessness is real and the Iraq war continues and simultaneously pelicans are out there acting like jerks. The world is a big place.
posted by Jackson Landers on 1-13-2009 at 5:31 pm
Imposing human morality and judgement upon a wildlife species is ignorant and detracts from the urgency surrounding the pelican’s recent and sudden die-off. Human activities are consistently to blame for species declines of this sort. We should be focusing on the causes of the die-off and are better off without the distractions this article represents. Species in decline should not be preserved because they are cute and fuzzy but because they are each an integral part of our biodiversity. The extinction of one will have repercussions for all.
posted by Sam on 1-14-2009 at 12:00 pm
There are many “rapist” bird species. Mallard ducks, the most common duck species in the world, are rapists, murderers and necrophiliacs. They’ve even been documented attempting to copulate with the dead. Several males will gang rape a female, often drowning her in the process, only to continue raping her dead body. They also have an unusually high rate (up to 19%) of homosexuality and homosexual necrophilia has also been documented. So if we’re going to impose human morality upon wildlife species, and regardless of what your thoughts are on the morality of homosexuality, those ignorant enough to apply morality to animals and who judge animals in this fashion must say mallards are far more immoral, or amoral, than pelicans. So why not rail on about mallards rather than trash a species that is struggling. Better yet, pray for mallard extinction.
While we’re at it, why don’t we criticize our closest living relative, the chimpanzee, so genetically similar to humans that we can transfuse their blood. There is ample evidence of rape, murder, incest, infanticide, cannibalism, etc. In fact, nearly every adult chimpanzee in existence must be guilty of one of these “crimes”. I’d argue that you’d be hard pressed to identify a species in existence that isn’t guilty of one of some abominable behavior.
The only reason we as humans find these behaviors so repugnant is because we fine them so within our own species. We are repulsed by our selves. This repulsion should not affect perspective in the consideration of other species in the animal kingdom. As I have already said, suggesting that a struggling species deserves its fate, when we are ultimately to blame is ignorant. A more valid argument is that humanity must pay for its crimes against world ecology and the pelican declines are just another example of our responsibility.
posted by Sam on 1-14-2009 at 1:59 pm