Tag: animals

Prey of the Pelican II

On By MelIn Artworks 2020Leave a comment

Although not being considered dangerous, pelicans are quite big and you wouldn´t want to mess with them!

The diet of pelicans usually consists of fish, but occasionally amphibians, turtles, crustaceans, insects, birds, and mammals are also eaten. The size of the preferred prey fish varies depending on pelican species and location. Apparently pelicans have even been observed eating smaller birds, sometimes scooping up water in order to drown them before swallowing.

Pelican eats pigeon_Melanie Franz

Flight of the Pelican II

On By MelIn Artworks 20202 Comments

Did you know that pelicans fly at an average speed of 25 km/h but they have been record with top speed of up to 65 km/h?

Their wing span ranges from 183 cm – 350 cm depending on the species. So yes, they are quite massive and you rather don´t mess with them.

Have a great weekend everyone!

Flying Pelicans_Melanie Franz

Pelican and their Fish

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An adult pelican may eat up to 1.8 kilograms of fish per day!

The brown pelican is a keen-eyed predator that can spot a fish swimming under the ocean’s surface even while flying almost 20 m above.

Its bigger cousin, the Peruvian pelican, also has great vision. Once a target has been spotted from above, the pelicans plunge into the sea bill-first at high speeds—and often from great height. When they collide with the prey, the impact force usually stuns the victim and it is then scooped up in the pouch.

Pelican eats fish_Melanie Franz

Pelican Landing

On By MelIn Artworks 20203 Comments

The brown pelican is a unique feeder that makes impressive dives from above the surface. They fly just above the surface of the water, then circle high, and when ready dive headfirst, plunging under water to catch fish.

They are able to dive from as high as 30 meters! The deeper the meal the higher the dive.

This pelican landing turned out purple for artistic expression.

20_07 Pelican landing_Melanie Franz

Pelican Offspring

On By MelIn Artworks 20206 Comments

Who has seen a baby pelican? I haven´t. Something unusual about the populations of coastal pelicans is that baby pelicans are never seen. 

Pelicans nest far away in inland or remote locations in large breeding colonies. The pair chooses a relatively flat nest site on gravel, sand, or soil near other pelicans at the same stage of the breeding cycle. In southern, drier regions, they nest amongst sparse vegetation. In forested regions, sites may be under shrubs or trees.

Both parents feed their young.

From about 25 days old, the young pelicans gather in “pods” or “crèches” of up to 100 birds. The parents recognise and feed only their own offspring.

Young Pelican in nest_Melanie Franz

Inktober 2019 Day 30 – Catch

On By MelIn Artworks 2019, inktober11 Comments

I´m aware that Inktober finished a while ago, and I also finally managed to finish the last drawing. All my plans of keeping up with drawing daily got interrupted by visitors and spontaneous out of town adventures. But I am not really complaining about it, as it was a lot of fun too.

I really enjoyed the prompt list this year, and I am always curious and excited to see the differences of my drawings between the last years.

Inktober 2017 got me back into drawing, and it was a real struggle in the beginning.

2018 I had a lot of fun with different characters and surrealistic scenes.

This year I wanted to learn how to stick to a character, which eventually developed into little Mr. Fox. What could his first name be? Maybe Emil?

I also started to work on illustrating a children´s book. And this was supposed to be some kind of practice for it. I feel I should also make a story out of the little fox.
Hope you had fun with him too!

He didn´t know where the fish came from. But he tried to catch it anyway.

191030 Inktober_Catch_Melanie Franz

Inktober 2019 Day 26 – Dark

On By MelIn Artworks 2019, inktober3 Comments

When you feel like the night has eyes. Actually I love how this one turned out. I was not really excited in the beginning but decided to go with the idea anyway. Now I am happy I did.

191026 Inktober_Dark_Melanie Franz

Inktober 2019 Day 21 – Treasure

On By MelIn Artworks 2019, inktober10 Comments

Books! A real treasure. I keep accumulating books but I cannot keep up with the reading. So my resolution is, to use the winter months to catch up with it! What about you?

191021 Inktober_Treasure_Melanie Franz