A couple of decades ago I was working as a consultant in the wireless telecommunications industry. My home base was San Diego, but I was stationed at the time in Tampa, Florida. I loved it there. The city was great, the Gulf of Mexico and the bays were beautiful, and there were pelicans everywhere. Pelicans probably are my favorite bird that I have actually seen in the wild.
There was a waterfront store in Clearwater that had pelican statues of every shape and size. I knew that my final act when I had to leave Tampa would be to visit that store and buy one of the statues that had a Great White Pelican sitting on a post in the water. I had it shipped to San Diego but, sadly, it was broken when it arrived. I have never seen a similar statue again.
However……………………..
I saw the real thing a few days ago, right here at the San Diego Zoo!
I took a picture and made a Photographic Art stamp out of it:
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Reblogged this on abirdinthebanksia.
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A lovely story Russel and thank you for the image. It brought back memories for me, too. I live in Australia and attended the Wattle Park Teacher’s college in South Australia, many years ago. At that time, its principal was Colin Thiele, who was also a well known author of children’s fiction. One of his best known works was a novel called ‘Storm Boy’ (later made into a film) which was set in the Coorong – the place where the might Murray river, that starts its life way up north in Queensland, finally meets the sea at the bottom end of Australia. Pelicans abound at the Coorong and are a feature of that story and your mention brought the book, the film, and of course, the place, all back to me. I thank you for that for I’m now in Queensland much closer to the start of the Murray than its end in South Australia.
Should you want some light relief and a taste of Australia, combined with some Pelican, you may care to read the book or look out the film.
Anyway, thank you.
roger
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I’m quite familiar with Colin Thiele. My husband of 21 years has worked at B. Dalton, Waldenbooks, Brentano’s, Borders, and Barnes & Noble bookstores during the past 37 years so I always get informed about books concerning my interests.
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My apologies – I should have realised that with your interest in Pelicans you would already be aware of such a well-known book as Storm Boy. I’m sorry if you considered my comment as demeaning. I really have to learn to keep my thoughts to myself. Thanks, anyway, for the memory.
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No apology needed! By mentioning Thiele and the book, you have added to my post for other readers, and for that I thank you. This is the blogosphere! No need to keep your thoughts to yourself. How would we have so much fun?
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Reblogged this on maddhineshthoughts.
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A great story and pic Russel. What a beautiful pelican.
Cheers
Laurie.
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It’s 3 am. I can’t read or write This time of morning zzzxxxxxzzzzz
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What a beautiful bird!
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They are beautiful. I haven’t been to Clearwater, FL since I was 13. We used to vacation near there in Punta Gorda where friends of my mom lived. This brought back memories. 🙂
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I bet that area was much more beautiful back then than it is today!
Happy Mother’s Day!
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Probably. I was a kid, and everything was beautiful. We lived in Indiana – hello! hehe I actually haven’t been back since. Thanks for the MD wishes. Right back at you. My husband’s son sent me a text of virtual flowers at 6:35 this morning. 🙂
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Even better than a statue!! I was born near Tampa – in Palmetto at Southeastern Guide Dogs!
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❤ ❤ ❤ ❤ ❤
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This one makes a great stamp photo!
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❤ ❤ ❤ ❤ ❤
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