Why is the pelican the state bird of louisiana

State Freshwater Fish. State Fruit. State Gemstone. State Insect. State Jellies. State Judicial Poem. State Mammal. State March Song. State Meal. State Meat Pie. State Mineral. State Motto. State Musical Instrument. State Name Origin. State Natural History Museum. State Nickname. As the bill is elevated the water dribbles from the mandibles, and the pouch contracts as fish are swallowed.

Five pounds of fish a day is the average consumption of a one-month old pelican. The use of pesticides caused the Brown Pelican, native to the area, to stop nesting along the Gulf coast in the s. The answer lies with one man. After the United States bought Louisiana in , the land that would comprise our state was named the Territory of Orleans.

President Thomas Jefferson appointed year-old William C. Claiborne adopted a seal depicting an eagle holding a laurel wreath in its beak with fifteen stars arranged at the bottom to represent the states of the Union. In ancient times, people believed the pelican would tear the flesh from its own body to feed its young in times of famine.

In , the pelican was made a part of the official Louisiana seal and, 10 years later, in , the pelican and her young adorned the Louisiana state flag as well. The pelican is also one of Louisiana's nicknames is " The Pelican State. In , the pelican was made the official state bird of Louisiana. This act was amended on July 26, to specifically the brown pelican , Pelecanus occidentalis.

It nests from South Carolina to Brazil. Pelicans are famous for their large bill, the lower portion of which has a pouch which may be greatly extended.