Watching a flock of Brown Pelicans in flight formation is truly captivating. They often arrange themselves in lines, frequently in V-shaped patterns behind a leader. Sometimes, a long single line of these birds will soar and dip through the sky, as if showcasing their mastery of “follow the leader.” Then, seemingly in unison, they will cease flapping and simply glide. It’s a mesmerizing aerial ballet.
Like many, I used to simply marvel at these avian dances. However, back in the mid-1990s, a question from a friend altered how I observed pelican flocks for years. My friend, Jerry Porche, a fellow Cajun known for his mischievous nature, posed a question: “Why do pelicans always fly in odd-numbered flocks?” Knowing Jerry’s penchant for playful teasing, I suspected he was trying to provoke me.
This question launched me into a multi-year quest to disprove his assertion. Instead of just enjoying the sight of pelican flocks, I started counting every bird. Whether the flock numbered 3 or 103, each one indeed seemed to be odd-numbered. (A solitary bird, by the way, doesn’t constitute a flock, in case you were wondering). Then, a few years into my self-imposed mission, while driving across a local bridge, I spotted two pelicans flying across the road.
You can imagine my excitement! I was eager to reach a phone (this was before the ubiquity of cell phones) to share my discovery with Jerry. “Hey Jerry, a flock of two pelicans flew across the bridge this morning!” I announced triumphantly. With his characteristic quick and sarcastic wit, he retorted, “Awww, the third bird is just running late!” It was impossible to argue with such logic! We shared many laughs about this over the years, with him bringing it up at every opportunity.
Thus began my recovery from obsessively counting pelicans. It took several more years to gradually stop counting birds in flocks, except during the annual Christmas Bird Counts – where, yes, the flocks were invariably odd-numbered. But the real takeaway from this story isn’t about Jerry’s theory regarding flock sizes.
Nor is it about whether ornithologists have ever pondered the same question. It’s simply that a friend, who may not have previously given birds much thought, made an observation that sparked his curiosity about the natural world and considered me someone who might have an answer. That was his gift to me, though at the time, I completely missed it.
Because of our friendship and our competitive nature, the significance of his “gift” flew right over my head, much like the pelicans themselves. I jokingly told many people how Jerry had ruined pelican watching for me. What I now understand is that his question actually ignited a broader curiosity about nature within him. I had, I dare say, inspired him to count birds in a flock and seek my insight.
We all possess the ability to inspire those around us with our passions, whether we realize it or not. In these simple acts of sharing, you too can inspire someone, and that is a truly valuable gift.
As for pelicans, I do occasionally encounter flocks of two these days. And when I watch them fly, I’m reminded of my late friend Jerry. I chuckle, say his name aloud, and quickly move on, before that elusive third bird decides to join the party!
Hope to see you out in our wonderful natural world!
