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Description
Pelicairns are a species of flightless bird that can be found in mountainous areas. They tend to hang around rocky places, like scree fields, cliffs, crags and rock falls, using these places as hunting grounds. This species is able to survive in such a high-altitude and low-temperature environment due to its feathers. Since it has no need for things like flight feathers, these structures are designed more to keep the Pelicairn warm and dry during cold winters and stormy days. The topmost layer of feathers that line its back are specially compacted and hardened to endure weather, falling objects and predatory attacks, while the rest keep its thick layers of down dry from the rain. Not only do these feathers serve as insulation, but they serve as excellent camouflage against the gray rocks that are scattered across the mountainside. By hiding amongst the stones and scree, Pelicairns can make themselves look like just another hunk of rock. This helps them hide from predators, but it also helps them hunt their favorite prey!

With this disguise, Pelicairns are excellent ambush predators. They sit motionlessly amongst the gray stones, waiting for prey to wander by. Their preferred food source is rodents, like marmots, groundhogs and squirrels. While these creatures scurry across the mountain looking for food and watching out for aerial predators, they are not paying attention to what may be hidden within the rocks. Oblivious to the waiting bird, they will pass by the predator's hiding spot and become lunch! Though Pelicairns seem fat and squat, their thick layer of feathers and down hide a rather long, flexible neck. When prey gets within reach, they will snap their heads forward at startling speeds and nab the creature with its strong beak. Though it does not possess teeth, the beak of a Pelicairn is hooked and rather powerful. While the sharp tip can break skin, the rest of the mouth is capable of breaking smaller bones with one crushing bite. A grabbed marmot will struggle in its maw, and the Pelicairn will bite down and whip its head about to disorient and injure the prey. Once weakened and wounded, the prey is swallowed and held in its expansive throat pouch. The skin of this bright colored pouch is quite thick and tough, resisting the claws and teeth of panicking victims. If the morsel is still alive and fighting when contained in the neck pouch, the Pelicairn will swing the whole parcel into the surrounding rocks. While the skin of the pouch is unaffected by the bludgeoning, the prey caught inside is not. After a few hearty wallops, the critter will stop moving and the Pelicairn will have its meal. It will swallow the food and settle back down in its hiding spot for a nice nap. After a light doze, the Pelicairn will awake and set itself up for another hunt. In such a rough environment, these creatures cannot afford to let a meal walk away.

While they hunt rodents, the Pelicairn may become prey to various other predators on the mountain. Birds of prey up above may swoop down and attack an undisguised Pelicairn if it is out wandering about. Mountain lions and roaming bears may find them as a nice snack that cannot fly away from them. While their thick feathers help protect them from glancing blows and swipes, they are not capable of deflecting razor claws and sharp teeth. Instead, Pelicairn's fight back with their sharp beak and claws. Their necks help them shoot their hooked beaks forward, often aiming for the eyes and nose of a foe. Their bite is quite nasty, and it can ruin an appetite if it sinks into a predator's sensitive nose. While attacking, Pelicairns let out deep grunts and squawks, which can further startle an attacker. These same noises are released when a large creature gets too close to their nest or spot. They do not wish to get stepped on, so they let the intruder know that they are there ( and in quite the vocal manner)! These loud calls are surprising enough that I have seen it startle trolls! When the lumbering creatures are looking for rocks to eat, they risk crushing hiding Pelicairns as they stomp about. So the birds let out a booming squawk that sends the giant bounding away in surprise! I have heard of a case where one of my researcher friends was almost trampled by a troll they were watching, as it got spooked by one of these noisy birds and nearly ran them over!

When it comes to reproduction, Pelicairns wait until the safety of night. During their breeding season, males will leave their spots and wander across the mountain looking for females. They use their deep grunts and yellow pouches to locate one another, then chase off competitors with a few hearty snaps of their beak! Pelicairns will only take one mate during the season, as the two work together to raise the resulting chick. Female Pelicairns will lay one to three dark gray eggs, and they will remain rooted in their hiding spot from the day of conception to the day the eggs finally hatch. While the female develops or incubates the eggs, the male will go out hunting. It will use its usual tactics to catch prey, but once its gets a marmot in its gullet it will take it to its mate. Until the eggs hatch, the female is dependent on the male for food, though they may get lucky if a blundering squirrel gets too close! When the chicks hatch, the female may leave the nest and take up an ambush spot, but she often sticks quite close to the young. Any food she catches will be digested and regurgitated for the chicks to eat. After weeks of feeding and warming, the young will have developed their adult feathers and will leave the nest. The mates will separate, and the whole family will go their separate ways.

Though they are large birds, people have tried to take them in as pets. While they are certainly adorable, Pelicairns are quite ornery creatures. They don't like being approached and they tend to be quite bitey. One may try to woo them by feeding them rats, but one needs to be careful or else they will only get broken fingers in return. Even with bribes of food, Pelicairns like to remain in tight, hiding spots and they often want to be left alone. Attempts to touch or extract them when they are hiding will earn nasty bites and loud complaints. Even if you can handle such a noisy, angry bird, I am betting your neighbors won't be so forgiving.

Chlora Myron

Dryad Natural Historian

--------------------------------------------------------

Here is a cuter creature for the ol's bestiary. A fusion of a pelican and a kiwi! This is actually my second attempt at this design, as my failed one was too big and lanky to function properly.

Description
Pelicairns are a species of flightless bird that can be found in mountainous areas. They tend to hang around rocky places, like scree fields, cliffs, crags and rock falls, using these places as hunting grounds. This species is able to survive in such a high-altitude and low-temperature environment due to its feathers. Since it has no need for things like flight feathers, these structures are designed more to keep the Pelicairn warm and dry during cold winters and stormy days. The topmost layer of feathers that line its back are specially compacted and hardened to endure weather, falling objects and predatory attacks, while the rest keep its thick layers of down dry from the rain. Not only do these feathers serve as insulation, but they serve as excellent camouflage against the gray rocks that are scattered across the mountainside. By hiding amongst the stones and scree, Pelicairns can make themselves look like just another hunk of rock. This helps them hide from predators, but it also helps them hunt their favorite prey!

With this disguise, Pelicairns are excellent ambush predators. They sit motionlessly amongst the gray stones, waiting for prey to wander by. Their preferred food source is rodents, like marmots, groundhogs and squirrels. While these creatures scurry across the mountain looking for food and watching out for aerial predators, they are not paying attention to what may be hidden within the rocks. Oblivious to the waiting bird, they will pass by the predator's hiding spot and become lunch! Though Pelicairns seem fat and squat, their thick layer of feathers and down hide a rather long, flexible neck. When prey gets within reach, they will snap their heads forward at startling speeds and nab the creature with its strong beak. Though it does not possess teeth, the beak of a Pelicairn is hooked and rather powerful. While the sharp tip can break skin, the rest of the mouth is capable of breaking smaller bones with one crushing bite. A grabbed marmot will struggle in its maw, and the Pelicairn will bite down and whip its head about to disorient and injure the prey. Once weakened and wounded, the prey is swallowed and held in its expansive throat pouch. The skin of this bright colored pouch is quite thick and tough, resisting the claws and teeth of panicking victims. If the morsel is still alive and fighting when contained in the neck pouch, the Pelicairn will swing the whole parcel into the surrounding rocks. While the skin of the pouch is unaffected by the bludgeoning, the prey caught inside is not. After a few hearty wallops, the critter will stop moving and the Pelicairn will have its meal. It will swallow the food and settle back down in its hiding spot for a nice nap. After a light doze, the Pelicairn will awake and set itself up for another hunt. In such a rough environment, these creatures cannot afford to let a meal walk away.

While they hunt rodents, the Pelicairn may become prey to various other predators on the mountain. Birds of prey up above may swoop down and attack an undisguised Pelicairn if it is out wandering about. Mountain lions and roaming bears may find them as a nice snack that cannot fly away from them. While their thick feathers help protect them from glancing blows and swipes, they are not capable of deflecting razor claws and sharp teeth. Instead, Pelicairn's fight back with their sharp beak and claws. Their necks help them shoot their hooked beaks forward, often aiming for the eyes and nose of a foe. Their bite is quite nasty, and it can ruin an appetite if it sinks into a predator's sensitive nose. While attacking, Pelicairns let out deep grunts and squawks, which can further startle an attacker. These same noises are released when a large creature gets too close to their nest or spot. They do not wish to get stepped on, so they let the intruder know that they are there ( and in quite the vocal manner)! These loud calls are surprising enough that I have seen it startle trolls! When the lumbering creatures are looking for rocks to eat, they risk crushing hiding Pelicairns as they stomp about. So the birds let out a booming squawk that sends the giant bounding away in surprise! I have heard of a case where one of my researcher friends was almost trampled by a troll they were watching, as it got spooked by one of these noisy birds and nearly ran them over!

When it comes to reproduction, Pelicairns wait until the safety of night. During their breeding season, males will leave their spots and wander across the mountain looking for females. They use their deep grunts and yellow pouches to locate one another, then chase off competitors with a few hearty snaps of their beak! Pelicairns will only take one mate during the season, as the two work together to raise the resulting chick. Female Pelicairns will lay one to three dark gray eggs, and they will remain rooted in their hiding spot from the day of conception to the day the eggs finally hatch. While the female develops or incubates the eggs, the male will go out hunting. It will use its usual tactics to catch prey, but once its gets a marmot in its gullet it will take it to its mate. Until the eggs hatch, the female is dependent on the male for food, though they may get lucky if a blundering squirrel gets too close! When the chicks hatch, the female may leave the nest and take up an ambush spot, but she often sticks quite close to the young. Any food she catches will be digested and regurgitated for the chicks to eat. After weeks of feeding and warming, the young will have developed their adult feathers and will leave the nest. The mates will separate, and the whole family will go their separate ways.

Though they are large birds, people have tried to take them in as pets. While they are certainly adorable, Pelicairns are quite ornery creatures. They don't like being approached and they tend to be quite bitey. One may try to woo them by feeding them rats, but one needs to be careful or else they will only get broken fingers in return. Even with bribes of food, Pelicairns like to remain in tight, hiding spots and they often want to be left alone. Attempts to touch or extract them when they are hiding will earn nasty bites and loud complaints. Even if you can handle such a noisy, angry bird, I am betting your neighbors won't be so forgiving.

Chlora Myron

Dryad Natural Historian

--------------------------------------------------------

Here is a cuter creature for the ol's bestiary. A fusion of a pelican and a kiwi! This is actually my second attempt at this design, as my failed one was too big and lanky to function properly.