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The origin and history of the pelicans in London’s St. James’s Park date back to the 17th century. The first pelicans were introduced to the park in 1664 as a gift from the Russian Ambassador to King Charles II. This initial gift marked the beginning of the pelican presence in the park, which has continued for over 350 years.
Throughout their history in St. James’s Park, the pelicans have become an integral part of the park’s charm and character. They have been a source of fascination and interest for visitors, and their care and well-being have been a priority for the park’s management. Over the years, additional pelicans have been gifted to the park by various donors, ensuring the continuation of this tradition.
These large, water birds are known for their distinctive features, such as their long beaks with a large throat pouch. They are primarily white with some having yellowish or pinkish plumage. The pelicans in St. James’s Park are generally very comfortable around people, often seen basking in the sun or gracefully gliding across the park’s lake. They are fed daily by the park’s wildlife officers and are a popular sight for both locals and tourists visiting the park.
some interesting tidbits about pelicans:
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Pelicans are known for their impressive wingspan, which varies among the different species. On average, the wingspan of a pelican can range widely:
- The Great White Pelican, which is one of the species that has been historically kept in St. James’s Park, has one of the largest wingspans of any living bird, ranging from about 2.3 to 3.6 meters (7.5 to 11.8 feet).
- The Brown Pelican, found mainly in coastal areas and not typically seen in St. James’s Park, has a smaller wingspan, ranging from about 2 to 2.5 meters (6.5 to 8.2 feet).
These large wings are not only striking in appearance but also highly functional, allowing pelicans to soar gracefully over water bodies in search of food and providing them with the ability to travel long distances with minimal effort.
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Morning walk in St. James’s park is my daily routine while in London, the main draw is the pelicans. It’s fascinating to see them swim around or just stand quietly on the lawns or even on the bench.
Besides, the park is with one of the best view of London skyline, if you look closely, you could see the medieval buildings on the top left.
Plus lovely lawns and flowers:
Around 70th, during the Cold War period, there was one incident caused by the pelicans. Upon hearing that the pelicans in St James’s Park were traditionally supplied by Russian , American ambassador decided that Americans should supply too. They donated a pair to the park, but these birds seemed not doing well. Americans accused Russian sabotaged the birds’ health, but the Russian embassy strongly denied. There was almost some public disagreement. Fortunately, they got some expert from London Zoo, found out the pelicans donated by US were salt-water species, not suitable for the freshwater ponds. So, the Americans had to change them- called Star and Tiffany.
Pelicans while standing or swimming, sometimes with mouth wide open. Once, a clueless pigeon flew into the mouth , suddenly, the mouth shut up, the pigeon was swallowed alive. Someone happened to take the picture. It was on the front page of every London tabloid next day.
