If the Great White Pelican feeding frenzy at Lake Nakuru National Park in Kenya was not enough for me to witness the pelicans performed yet again! This time I was blown away by thousands of these large birds flying in every morning and evening to bathe.
With the Lakes waters having large soda concentrations, the pelicans were meticulous with bathing themselves clean. There were very limited options for this daily ritual to take place and near to the camp where I was staying, a freshwater river flowed into the lake and it was here that the pelicans chose to bathe. Long squadrons of the birds could be seen approaching from great distances and then with wings flared, feet down with webs open and heavy braking they would crash land into the water, often sending other birds scurrying out of the way.
After regaining their composure, they then proceeded to bathe with massive splashing, flapping of wings and ducking their oversized heads under the water. This process was repeated several times before they exited the water and waddled with a rather ungainly stride to an opening where with heavy wing-beats they shook off the excess water. Preening and scratching followed and finally a long period of rest amongst company ensued. This peacefulness was regularly rudely interrupted by large Cape buffalo bulls who wandered through the flocks.
On my last evening at Lake Nakuru a heavy rain storm with dark black clouds and a whipping wind swept across the area. Instead of bathing, all the pelicans quickly gave up feeding and came to shore, where they stood in the rain with heads tucked deeply under their wings. This rain was clearly far better than the silt filled river as the pelicans also failed to bathe the next morning and all were gleaming with the subtle colors really showing through.
