Pelicans are always plunge diving to catch fish. With all that diving for fish, California brown pelicans need to keep their feathers water resistant and dry.
Preening is the practice of spreading preen oil from a special gland near the pelican’s tail all over its feathers to keep them water resistant. Since pelicans quickly come to the surface after diving, they need to remain buoyant. Water resistant feathers trap air, thereby helping them float.
Some diving birds, such as cormorants, on the other hand, dive and stay underwater swimming for extended periods looking for fish. Thus, they do not want to be buoyant; they want their feathers soaked so that it takes less effort to stay underwater.
On May 28, 2026, a brown pelican took a break from diving near the harbor seal float at Alameda Point by landing on a boulder next to the Bay Trail. It soon began preening and seemed unfazed by a photographer sitting not far away capturing the body contortions and deft use of its bill.
Alameda Point Environmental Report 