# @nationalparkservice on Instagram

- **Type:** Image
- **Original URL:** https://www.instagram.com/p/Depd-l-HVUj
- **Gondola URL:** https://gondola.cc/posts/75887318-nationalparkservice-instagram
- **Thumbnail:** https://img.gondola.cc/tr:w-,h-,fo-auto/postThumbnails/b4e1913a43.jpg
- **Posted:** 2026-10-18T19:47:20.000+00:00
- **Account Owner:** National Park Service (@nationalparkservice) — https://gondola.cc/nationalparkservice

## Caption

What’s the scoop?

We’re talking about big beak energy. A pelican’s beak is basically nature’s version of a fishing net, a grocery bag, and an expandable lunchbox rolled into one. Nice. 

The stretchy pouch of skin hanging beneath its bill is called a gular pouch. (The word gular comes from the Latin word gula, which means “throat,” “gullet,” or “palate”) Sounds appropriate. It can hold about 3 gallons of water. That’s roughly 48 cups. We repeat, forty-eight cups. 

Some pelicans can eat around 4 pounds of fish a day. Some peli-cant. Either way, it’s usually a lot of seafood for one bird to scoop, even if your face does come with its own short-term storage compartment.

But the gular pouch isn’t a takeout container. Pelicans drain the water before swallowing their fish. The pelican tilts its head forward or back to squeeze and drain the water out of the sides. No leftovers. No meal prep. No little fish-shaped doggy bags. Just a giant beak, an expandable face pocket, and a seafood quota that would make an all-you-can-eat buffet reconsider its business model.

Who’s hungry? 

Image 1: cabrillonps NPS/Geisler, S.Buck 
Image 2: padreislandnps NPS
Image 3: fortmonroenps NPS
Image 4: timucuannps NPS

## Stats

- **Views:** 0
- **Likes:** 38,458
- **Shares:** 0
- **Comments:** 112

## Credits

These are the roles credited on Gondola. Credits may be incomplete.
A brand, account owner, or featured person is not necessarily the creator.

| Name | Username | Profile | Role |
| --- | --- | --- | --- |
| National Park Service | @nationalparkservice | https://gondola.cc/nationalparkservice | Government Organization |

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