Pelicans were first introduced to St Jame's Park in 1664 as a gift from the Russian Ambassador to King Charles II. This was the beginning of a long tradition of keeping exotic wildfowl that continues to this day.

A mysterious arrival

In 1996 a healthy eastern white pelican was found by a gentleman in his garden near Southend. He sought advice from The Royal Parks wildlife officers but the burden of caring for the bird became too great , and he soon donated it to St Jame's Park. As the owner could not be traced, the bird remains alive and well in the park to this day.

A healthy diet of fish

Pelicans are piscivorous and are offered fish by The Royal Parks wildlife officer every day of the year. They enjoy a variety of sustainably-sourced sea fish, including whiting, herring, mackerel and sometimes sardines. Each pelican eats 2-5 fish per day.

Majestic birds

Eastern white pelicans (Pelecanus onocrotalus) can grow up to 1.8 metres and their enormous bill makes up to a quarter of that length. They have the second largest wingspan of all living birds after the great albatrosses. The pelicans of St Jame's Park have been known to live for up to 50 years!

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