Kalkan Turkey Forum - EnjoyKalkan.com
Kalkan Discussion => General Discussion => Topic started by: Lantana on January 02, 2008, 04:33:56 PM
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For anyone currently in Kalkan, wanting to see some unusual wildlife, there is a pair of pelicans in the main harbour in Kas. They appear to be completely unfazed by humans and come out of the water to check whether visitors have any interesting, fishy tidbits for them. They are very large and quite beautiful. We stood less than a metre away from them as they groomed themselves, they twist their necks 360 degrees and their bills are amazingly long. When not waddling along the harbour wall they are swimming in and out of the fishing boats, very inquisitive and apparently very much at home.
We watched them for half an hour today, it was a wonderful start to the New Year, a reminder, if we needed one, of how lucky we are to live here as guests in this community with its stunning natural beauty and abundance of wild life.
So for a sight to fill your heart with joy, take a trip to Kas.
Lantana
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If only I could Lantana! Charlie
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Lantana - any idea if they will stay there - or is it a passing phenomenon - its just I come out on Saturday (can''t wait!!) and would love to catch a sight of them - I''m sure that I''ll be headed off to kas for something - also - I presume when you say ''main harbour'' you mean the one right in the town (ie: the 2nd harbour you come across when you drive from Kalkan..)
Cheers!
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The pelicans were there in early December wandering in and out of the cafe we were sitting in, but a gentleman there took it upon himself to make a bit of a sideshow of them by teasing them with fish and making them chase him around - he never actually gave them any fish and most of the people in the cafe were quite shocked by his behaviour, rather than enjoying the ''show''. After we had a few words he did give them all the fish and wandered off with his tail between his legs.
Lantana is right though, they are magnificent birds, I had never seen one in the flesh before and it was wonderful to see them so close up and looking so healthy.
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Wow, how lovely, we were there last week , and by the harbour a couple of times and there was no sign of them, they are a beautiful bird and for one so large very graceful. Bet they are causing alot of interest.
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How lovely! Sorry we can''t be there. If anyone can get a photograph posted onto the site, I for one would love to see them. The last time I had the pleasure of seeing one was in the garden of a hotel in the Lake District during a hot spell in July. He stayed around for about 3 hours and caused a fair bit of attention!
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Yes, we saw them in early December...lovely!
Em
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Having done a bit more research, I have discovered that they are Great White Pelicans, quite rare and a protected species as their numbers are rapidly dwindling because they are killed by fishermen. At this time of year, they should be in Africa where they spend the winter. It appears that these two liked the area so much they decided not to leave. Sounds familiar.......
Lantana
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I''ve never seen pelicans in this area before, but there was one some years ago which had taken up residence at a restaurant in Cyprus. It regularly wandered amongst the tables, both outside and inside, and happily mooched fish from the patrons.
Shirley Burley, it was one very feisty bird - if it took it into its head to be annoyed with anybody, (which it did fairly often) it shot out its neck at quite astonishing speed and gave them a good peck with its powerful beak. Your irritating gentleman was lucky he didn''t get a nature study lesson in "the behaviour of pelicans" he wouldn''t forget in a hurry!
Rushing to get the camera out now....
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Hi All, have just uploaded a photo of the Kas Pelicans on the gallery, taken on Boxing Day (should be on soon). Hope you like!
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Remember seeing them outside a restaurant in Paphos, Cyprus. Impressive indeed.
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Mr. T. That photo is super - thanks