Bully Pelican Ruthlessly Gobbles Up A Duck In A City Park

Bicentennial Park is a beautiful place where people of all ages can explore nature, unplug from social media, and enjoy the great outdoors. One of the highlights of this park is a fishing dock that not only gives easy access to the water for fishermen but is a great place to relax.

A video showcasing this dock is going viral for the most peculiar reason, as the title suggests. On a busy weekend afternoon, the park is filled with families and young children feeding ducks. 

Watch This Video Until The End To See This Pelican Swallow A Duckling!

Despite popular belief, feeding wild birds bread is actually bad for their health. It can result in malnutrition and can prevent them from absorbing the proper nutrients to stay healthy. The water below the dock is filled with ducks seemingly enjoying the bread being tossed their way. 

Eventually, a massive pelican paddles its way toward the free food. It’s very apparent just how much larger the pelican is compared to the adult and baby ducks. Pelicans are known to be opportunistic predators that eat just about anything.

They prefer crustaceans, turtles, and even tadpoles. The video continues as the families enjoy their afternoon. The ducks can’t get enough of the food being thrown toward them, and everyone seems to be having a good time. 

Taking An Opportunity

With pelicans being opportunistic feeders, nothing is off-limits when they’re hungry enough. A duckling appears to be swimming away from the much larger bird. Without warning, the pelican scoops up the duckling into its pouch.

Instantly, everyone watching shrieks in horror. Although what just occurred is completely normal in nature, having children witness such a sight is a bit off-putting. A technique employed by pelicans when they eat smaller birds involves scooping up water into their beak to drown the animals before swallowing them whole! 

A comment on the video sums up the circle of life in the wild. “Just a calm and comforting scene of people feeding and admiring the wildlife when all of a sudden a pelican just snags a duckling! The people’s reaction was hilarious! That’s nature for you, people.”

Another comment mentions that the bread being thrown in the water could’ve possibly baited the pelican to the area. These birds are only known to eat seagulls and ducks when they’re incredibly hungry. When the bread wasn’t enough to satiate the pelican, it could’ve seen the easy opportunities right in front of their eyes. 

Right after the pelican scoops up the duckling, another duck can be seen flying toward it, seemingly in an attempt to save the little duck.

The photo featured at the top of this post is © Jody Ann/Shutterstock.com