Flapping and Fun: October 16, Part 2

The Queen of the Log pelican decided that she was willing to share her log with another worthy bird. Unfortunately, that did not reflect well on the pelican snoozing nearby.

American white pelican (Pelecanus erythrorhynchos) and American coot (Fulica americana) stand together on a log at White Rock Lake in Dallas, TX

Meet Rebecca and Svetlana, the stars of TV’s newest blockbuster comedy about a very strange couple that just moved into the neighborhood: Pelican and Coot.

American white pelican (Pelecanus erythrorhynchos) and American coot (Fulica americana) stand together on a log at White Rock Lake in Dallas, TX

Further out in the bay, two geese had just finished taking turns dipping their heads in the water for foreplay and were ready to get down to business.

Geese attempt to mate at White Rock Lake in Dallas, TX

Hey, what are you doing? I’m supposed to be the one biting you!

Geese attempt to mate at White Rock Lake in Dallas, TX

Wait, now I’m confused. I thought I was supposed to bite you; you’re not supposed to bite me!

Geese attempt to mate at White Rock Lake in Dallas, TX

OW! Goddammit, forget this. I’m outta here.

Geese attempt to mate at White Rock Lake in Dallas, TX

Okay, I’m trying to be outta here.

Geese attempt to mate at White Rock Lake in Dallas, TX

The male was happy to terminate the mating attempt when he realized he could get a free ride around the bay by letting the female drag him.

The Queen of the Log got bored with her position and decided to move on.

American white pelican (Pelecanus erythrorhynchos) steps off a log to swim at White Rock Lake in Dallas, TX

American white pelican (Pelecanus erythrorhynchos) steps off a log to swim at White Rock Lake in Dallas, TX

American white pelican (Pelecanus erythrorhynchos) steps off a log to swim at White Rock Lake in Dallas, TX

I abdicate my position in order to be with my one true love . . . FISHIE!

Two pelicans had been swimming together around the bay, occasionally plunging their heads underwater to hunt for fish. They came across a piece of trash and squabbled over who got to play with it.

Two American white pelicans (Pelecanus erythrorhynchos) try to pick up a piece of trash to play with it at White Rock Lake in Dallas, TX

Two American white pelicans (Pelecanus erythrorhynchos) try to pick up a piece of trash to play with it at White Rock Lake in Dallas, TX

The pelican who was unable to get to the trash slowly moved on, and her partner abandoned the trash in order to keep up.

Two American white pelicans (Pelecanus erythrorhynchos) plunge their heads underwater as they hunt for fish at White Rock Lake in Dallas, TX

Then the pelican who had tried playing with the trash discovered an even better toy.

American white pelican (Pelecanus erythrorhynchos) plays with a stick at White Rock Lake in Dallas, TX

Oooh! Look what I found!

A brief note about play: Justice Stewart’s aphorism about pornography also works when trying to describe what appears to be object-oriented play among the pelicans. Some instances of play are very obvious, but some are not. Repetition is a good indicator that the pelican is playing, but what about when there is only one incident? In this case, the pelican appeared as though she were purposefully engaging with a useless object, and she had done the same thing with the orange piece of trash just a few minutes before finding the stick. I’ve seen some pelicans, when they are in a playful mood, pick up object after object after object to drop and toss around.

American white pelican (Pelecanus erythrorhynchos) plays with a stick at White Rock Lake in Dallas, TX

I am Donatello of the Teenage Mutant Ninja Pellies! Check out the awesome moves I can do with my bo!

American white pelican (Pelecanus erythrorhynchos) plays with a stick at White Rock Lake in Dallas, TX

I WILL SAVE YOU, APRIL O’NEIL!

American white pelican (Pelecanus erythrorhynchos) plays with a stick at White Rock Lake in Dallas, TX

What, Michelangelo? You think you should be the one to rescue April O’Neil? Fuck you! I will fucking beat you with my bo!

American white pelican (Pelecanus erythrorhynchos) plays with a stick at White Rock Lake in Dallas, TX

Yeah, you’re scared. That’s right. I know you’re scared.

American white pelican (Pelecanus erythrorhynchos) plays with a stick at White Rock Lake in Dallas, TX

“Oh no, it’s Donatello from the Teenage Mutant Ninja Pellies! I’ve heard she can take out five Foot Soldiers with one swing!”

American white pelican (Pelecanus erythrorhynchos) plays with a stick at White Rock Lake in Dallas, TX

Hmmm. This is much more difficult to swing than I thought it would be.

American white pelican (Pelecanus erythrorhynchos) plays with a stick at White Rock Lake in Dallas, TX

So, Shredder. We meet at last.

American white pelican (Pelecanus erythrorhynchos) plays with a stick at White Rock Lake in Dallas, TX

Take THAT, fucker! Oh yeah! You’re scared; I know it!

She swam over to where the stick had landed. I thought she was going to look for it, but when her companion started swimming toward her, she abandoned what might have been her search and decided to crown herself Queen of the Log.

American white pelican (Pelecanus erythrorhynchos) jumps onto a log at White Rock Lake in Dallas, TX

Weeeeeeee!

American white pelican (Pelecanus erythrorhynchos) stands on a log at White Rock Lake in Dallas, TX

Perhaps inspired by the Queen of the Log’s play behavior, a different pelican picked up a stick, although she didn’t seem very interested in it. That is not atypical for play behavior: nearby pelicans watching the play can get interested enough that they try to pick up nearby objects and manipulate them. Most of the time, like with this bird, they lose interest quickly. But not always.

American white pelican (Pelecanus erythrorhynchos) picks up a stick at White Rock Lake in Dallas, TX

I went to the shore to see what was going on over there. Several pelicans were trying to figure out a way onto the prime loafing areas without encountering too much resistance.

American white pelican (Pelecanus erythrorhynchos) jumps onto a log at White Rock Lake in Dallas, TX

Three American white pelicans (Pelecanus erythrorhynchos) on a log at White Rock Lake in Dallas, TX

Four American white pelicans (Pelecanus erythrorhynchos) at White Rock Lake in Dallas, TX

Room for two more? Okay, fine; fuck that other pelican. Room for one more?

American white pelican (Pelecanus erythrorhynchos) jumps onto a log at White Rock Lake in Dallas, TX

Three American white pelicans (Pelecanus erythrorhynchos) stand on a log at White Rock Lake in Dallas, TX

All right, there, partner: you can stay this time. But next time . . .

I went back to the dock, where a pelican was splashing up a storm as she bathed.

American white pelican (Pelecanus erythrorhynchos) bathes in the water at White Rock Lake in Dallas, TX

American white pelican (Pelecanus erythrorhynchos) bathes in the water at White Rock Lake in Dallas, TX

American white pelican (Pelecanus erythrorhynchos) bathes in the water at White Rock Lake in Dallas, TX

American white pelican (Pelecanus erythrorhynchos) bathes in the water at White Rock Lake in Dallas, TX

A pelican played with the same bit of trash that a different pelican had found a couple of days earlier.

American white pelican (Pelecanus erythrorhynchos) plays with trash at White Rock Lake in Dallas, TX

American white pelican (Pelecanus erythrorhynchos) plays with trash at White Rock Lake in Dallas, TX

American white pelican (Pelecanus erythrorhynchos) plays with trash at White Rock Lake in Dallas, TX

Another pelican made a mighty leap onto a high-up section of log, got attacked, panicked, and jumped forward off the log into the water. They would have been lovely pictures except I had the exposure set way too dark. Oh well.

American white pelican (Pelecanus erythrorhynchos) swims away after jumping off a log at White Rock Lake in Dallas, TX

But now that exposure level works okay, doesn’t it, pelicansrulegullsdrool?

A pelican that had been swimming suddenly stopped, stood up, and flapped mightily.

American white pelican (Pelecanus erythrorhynchos) flapping at White Rock Lake in Dallas, TX

After a stirring performance Tamara was awarded first prize in the “air hula-hoop” contest.

American white pelican (Pelecanus erythrorhynchos) flapping at White Rock Lake in Dallas, TX

Perhaps she was flapping to psych herself up for a confrontation, because after she sank back into the water she steamed toward the Queen of the Log log.

American white pelican (Pelecanus erythrorhynchos) swims at White Rock lake in Dallas, TX

Out past the Queen of the Log log, Dread Pirate Roberts was bathing vigorously.

American white pelican (Pelecanus erythrorhynchos) bathes in the water at White Rock Lake in Dallas, TX

American white pelican (Pelecanus erythrorhynchos) bathes in the water at White Rock Lake in Dallas, TX

Sure enough, the swimming pelican reached the Queen of the Log log, paused, and launched herself into the air.

Two American white pelicans (Pelecanus erythrorhynchos) fight for access to a log at White Rock Lake in Dallas, TX

Holy shit! She just drop-kicked that pelican!

The pelican who was kicked managed to stay on the log.

Two American white pelicans (Pelecanus erythrorhynchos) fight for access to a log at White Rock Lake in Dallas, TX

You drop-kicked the mighty Donatello, then you stepped on her foot? YOU SHALL PAY.

When both of the birds were balanced together on the log, I thought they might settle down and share. I underestimated the original pelican’s dedication to keep the log to herself.

Two American white pelicans (Pelecanus erythrorhynchos) fight for access to a log at White Rock Lake in Dallas, TX

WATCH THIS, APRIL O’NEIL!

Two American white pelicans (Pelecanus erythrorhynchos) fight for access to a log at White Rock Lake in Dallas, TX

Two American white pelicans (Pelecanus erythrorhynchos) fight for access to a log at White Rock Lake in Dallas, TX

I may no longer have my bo, but I am a mighty warrior with the BEAK!

Two American white pelicans (Pelecanus erythrorhynchos) fight for access to a log at White Rock Lake in Dallas, TX

Watching them fight was like watching an arm wrestler slowly but steadily force an opponent’s arm down.

Two American white pelicans (Pelecanus erythrorhynchos) fight for access to a log at White Rock Lake in Dallas, TX

I’m losing? This isn’t right!

Two American white pelicans (Pelecanus erythrorhynchos) fight for access to a log at White Rock Lake in Dallas, TX

The pelican who lost looks like a cranky infant who was just put down into her crib when she still wants to be out playing.

The pelican who lost suddenly decided that she was going to fly somewhere far, far away. Then the pelicans of White Rock Lake would be sorry.

American white pelican (Pelecanus erythrorhynchos) takes off from the water at White Rock Lake in Dallas, TX

American white pelican (Pelecanus erythrorhynchos) takes off from the water at White Rock Lake in Dallas, TX

American white pelican (Pelecanus erythrorhynchos) takes off from the water at White Rock Lake in Dallas, TX

Part 3 will include more flapping, another fight, and much more Dread Pirate Roberts action.