Meet the Pelicans of San Remo

Each day around midday, a peculiar spectacle unfolds by the jetty in San Remo: a congregation of large, white birds with enormous beaks, strutting across the shoreline and waiting for lunch. These are Australian Pelicans, and their daily gathering has become a beloved ritual for both locals and visitors alike. For those heading out on our Cape Woolamai cruise, it’s the perfect prelude to spotting these magnificent gliders in their natural coastal element.

Longest Beak of Any Bird

The Australian Pelican (Pelecanus conspicillatus) boasts the longest beak of any bird on the planet, up to a remarkable 50 centimetres. Their iconic pink-hued pouch can hold an astonishing 13 litres of water or fish, making it a highly specialised tool for scooping up prey. Despite the myth, they don’t store fish in their pouches; instead, they swiftly drain the water and swallow their catch whole.

San Remo’s Daily Feeding Frenzy

The pelican feeding at San Remo began as a humble tradition, with fishers tossing leftover fish scraps to the birds. Over time, it evolved into a daily event that draws crowds eager to watch pelicans jostle, flap, and snap up their lunch. It offers a rare chance to observe their social dynamics up close and appreciate just how big and beautiful they really are. Organised on by the San Remo Fisherman’s Co-Op for free!

Nomadic Wanderers

What many people don’t realise is that these coastal pelicans might have come from breeding colonies hundreds of kilometres away. Australian Pelicans are incredibly nomadic. They travel vast distances across the continent, following floods and fish booms in the inland wetlands. After heavy rains, remote areas like Lake Eyre and the Menindee Lakes can become pelican nurseries, hosting thousands of nests in a single season.

When conditions are right, pelicans breed in large colonies on isolated islands or lakeshores. Each pair lays 1 to 3 eggs, and both parents share incubation duties. As the chicks grow, they gather in groups called ‘creches’, like seabird kindergartens, where they gain strength while their parents forage.

Feeding Masters

Australian Pelicans are opportunistic feeders. While fish are their primary food, they’ll also eat crustaceans, insects, and even small birds. Sometimes, they work as a team: lining up and herding fish into shallow water, then scooping them up in a coordinated strike. Their cooperative hunting and adaptability make them one of Australia’s most successful waterbirds.

Majestic Gliders

On our Cape Woolamai cruise, it’s not unusual to see pelicans gliding effortlessly over the bay or loafing on sandbars at Rhyll Inlet. Their flight is graceful and unhurried, with slow, powerful wingbeats.

Cruise Cape Woolamai, watch the famous pelican feeding at San Remo, then treat yourself to fresh local seafood and fish and chips at the Co-Op.