This is Bird Note.

Imagine a line of brown pelicans flying just above the breaking surf of the coast.

Perhaps you've watched and heard these large, long-billed birds fishing.

They circle high, then dive head first, plunging underwater to catch fish.

But doesn't that hurt?

Anyone who's taken a belly flop off a diving board knows the powerful force of hitting the water.

Several adaptations protect brown pelicans as they dive, sometimes from as high as 60 feet.

Air sacks, beneath the skin on their breasts, act like cushions.

Also, while diving, a pelican rotates its body ever so slightly to the left.

This rotation helps avoid injury to the esophagus and trachea,

which are located on the right side of the bird's neck.

Pelicans have also learned that a steep dive angle

between 60 and 90 degrees reduces aiming errors caused by water surface refraction.

We know that pelicans learn this behavior

because adults are better marksmen than young birds.

Upon impact, the brown pelican opens its bill

and expands its pouch,

trapping small fish inside.

Then the bird pops to the surface,

spills out the water, and gulps down dinner.

For Bird Note, I'm Mary McCann.

Support for Bird Note comes from the Cornell Labs Bird Academy,

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