Huge, prehistoric-looking, and improbably graceful once airborne — the California Brown Pelican cruises inches above the swell, riding the cushion of air off the wave face without a single wingbeat. Then it folds up and drops, hitting the water like a thrown brick, and surfaces with a pouch full of seawater it has to drain before it can swallow. They were nearly wiped out by DDT thinning their eggshells in the 1960s and 70s; the fact that you can now stand on almost any pier from San Diego to Point Reyes and watch a squadron go by is one of the quieter conservation wins of the last fifty years. California Brown Pelican

from Venkatesh Rao's Blyg ↗ · snapshot of v2

Can attest from San Diego. Over the summer and beach visits with the kids, Pelican watching was one of those unintentional but consistent activities. Its fun to think thay they have their own little pier-club to hang out at. I wonder what they call it, Pacifica Pier Pelican Party maybe?