3" Pelican sitting on a post. by Judy's "Create a House"
Pelicans have a popular limerick attached to them, which states that the large pouch of their beak can hold more than their belly. These huge water birds are skilled fliers as well as swimmers. In addition to the avian world, they’ve also built a name for themselves in the spiritual world. Pelicans are instinctive nurturers and are, first and foremost, symbolic of sacrifice and generosity. These birds can prick their own chest to feed their babies their blood for nourishment, which is an act so pious it makes them almost divine. In some cultures, pelicans are also symbolic of the afterlife and are known to protect the deceased souls on the path to the underworld.