Key Takeaways
- Naughty Boy, a three-year-old pelican, has become notorious for his silly antics in a small town on Western Australia’s Midwest coast.
- The pelican’s behavior includes grunting at feeders, lunging at terrified toddlers, playing dead, and trapping seagulls inside his bill.
- Naughty Boy’s personality and strange behaviors are unlike anything the volunteer feeders have seen before, and he has become a drawcard for visitors to the town.
- The pelican’s antics have been captured on video and have drawn large crowds to the daily feeding sessions.
- Despite his rough behavior, Naughty Boy’s beak is gentle and does not cause harm to humans or other animals.
Introduction to Naughty Boy
Naughty Boy, a pelican with a penchant for silly antics, has become a star attraction in a small town on Western Australia’s Midwest coast. The three-year-old bird has been making waves with his unpredictable behavior, which includes grunting at feeders, lunging at terrified toddlers, playing dead, and trapping seagulls inside his bill. As the newest and youngest member of a group of pelicans in Kalbarri, Naughty Boy has quickly become the center of attention, with visitors flocking to see him in action.
The Pelican’s Antics
Naughty Boy’s behavior is unlike anything the volunteer feeders have seen before. According to Jude Anderson, one of the pelican feeders, "He’s very naughty, he’s very young, and he’s just got a male attitude." The pelican demands food, runs around, and is vocal, holding his wings out for all to see. His antics have been captured on video, including a notable incident where he held an entire seagull inside his fleshy bill. The seagull had been competing with Naughty Boy for a fish and had to be rescued by pelican feeder Jess Higgot.
The Pelican’s Gentle Side
Despite his rough behavior, Naughty Boy’s beak is gentle and does not cause harm to humans or other animals. According to Ms. Anderson, "They [pelicans] don’t leave a mark. They’re not vicious. He wants the food." Naughty Boy has also been known to "play dead" by splaying out on the ground during feeding sessions or tucking his head beneath his wings and pretending not to notice what’s going on around him. This theatrical behavior has delighted crowds and made him a beloved figure in the town.
The Impact on the Community
Naughty Boy’s antics have had a significant impact on the community, with visitor numbers to the feeding sessions increasing dramatically. According to Ms. Anderson, "We get people from all around the world." The pelican’s popularity has also brought back former visitors, with many parents returning with their own children to see the pelicans. The feeding sessions have been running for nearly 50 years, and Naughty Boy has become a new drawcard for the town. The volunteers also remove fishing hooks or line stuck to the pelicans, and the amount of fish offered during feeding sessions is only a small portion of their daily intake.
The Future of Naughty Boy
Despite his popularity, the volunteers expect Naughty Boy to move on to another location soon, as pelicans are nomadic. However, for now, he remains a beloved figure in the town, entertaining crowds with his silly antics and gentle nature. As Ms. Anderson said, "He’s just got a male attitude," and his behavior is unlike anything they have seen before. Whether he stays or goes, Naughty Boy has left a lasting impression on the town and its visitors, and his legend will live on for years to come.