Pelican Statues: Everything You Need To Know

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The pelican is not only a uniquely beautiful bird but also a symbol of the coast.  And this makes a pelican statue an ideal choice for bringing a bit of the beach into your home, yard, or business. So here is everything you’ll want to know about them.

Meet The Pelican

Pelicans are large water birds. In fact, the tallest of the eight species, the Dalmatian pelican, can stand close to six feet tall and have a maximum wingspan of ten and a half feet wide. Pelicans also have one of the most unique beaks on the planet. Their enormous beaks have a large pouch that is used like a fishing net, to scoop up fish.

Pelican Statue Poses

Pelican statues come in a range of different poses. These typically feature pelicans doing things that these special birds naturally do in the wild. It’s common to find statues of pelicans that are sunning themselves to warm up, preening (cleaning) their feathers, or looking down at the water and scanning for their next fishy meal to swim by.

You’ll also see statues of pelicans spreading their wings and getting ready to fly, with an open beak ready to scoop up some fish, with a pouch that’s full of food, or simply relaxing. Because the pelican’s most unique features are its huge beak and pouch, they are often prominently featured in more artistic statues.

And they are sometimes used in creative and fun ways such as with pelican planters, spitting statues, and decorative downspout extensions. When shopping for a statue you may notice that most are made to look like the American white pelican since it is so recognizable although statues may also resemble the brown pelican as well as other species. Some artistic options simply look like a generic pelican and not any specific species at all.

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Statue Bases

Because pelicans are a common sight near docks and piers, many statues include a base that makes it looks as if the bird is standing or perching on one or more wooden pilings. These often include the added detail of having a thick fisherman’s or nautical rope around them, just like what is used to tie pilings together in real life.

And some piling bases have details such as wood that appears to be weathered from being exposed to the sea or even pelican poop. Because pelicans are social birds, bases with multiple pilings sometimes include multiple pelicans as well so you can have your own flock. Statues are made to have bases that look like other natural areas where pelicans like to relax too such as on rocks and logs.

For those who prefer a statue without a base, there are free-standing pelican statues. These may stand up on their own two feet although many will need to be staked down when used outdoors. Other baseless statues may have no legs at all and appear to be swimming or lying down. These statues have an underside that is made to be flat and keeps them upright.

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Sizes

Pelican statuary comes in various sizes although you can typically expect most statues to be at least around a foot and a half in height or taller. Real pelicans are big birds standing from three and a half feet up to almost six feet tall depending on the species.

Therefore some life-size pelican statues can be quite large. Although the height of a statue will depend on the pose of the pelican, whether or not it has a base, and just how life-size it really is.

Material Basics

Similar to statues of other animals you will find that pelican statues come in many different materials. One of the most widely available and popular are statues made of resin. That’s because they are not only light in weight but when hand-painted typically look the most lifelike. In addition, a resin pelican statue can also be made to look like more expensive materials but at a fraction of the cost.

Metal statues are another option. Some metal pelicans even come with a patina (despite being new) to make them look much older than they are. Those made from bronze in particular, while costly are often so beautiful that they are considered actual works of art. Stone too is another expensive yet stunning choice that can last a lifetime.

For those who would like something very heavy and durable with the look of stone without the price tag, a concrete pelican statue is a more budget-friendly choice. Wooden statues may be hand-carved and sometimes come with a distressed finish to give them a weathered or rustic appearance.

And of course, there are other materials as well such as ceramic, glass, or even statues that are made from several different materials such as wood and metal for example.

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Where And How To Use A Pelican Statue

Statues of pelicans are a popular piece of décor for bird lovers and an ideal choice for beach, coastal, and nautical-themed homes or businesses. They can also be used by anyone no matter how far from the water, who would like to have a reminder of the beach and all of the memories that come along with it in their home.

Indoors, pelicans are often placed on kitchen counters, fireplace mantles, and on tabletops. Since they are water birds outdoors pelican statues are a natural choice near water features, ponds, and swimming pools. Because pelicans often perch on pilings, and many statues come with a piling base, many people place their statues on the top of deck, stair, or fence posts.

If you are lucky enough to live on the water and have your own dock, you may want to place your pelican on top of your real pilings. Another popular option is to purchase decorative wooden or faux wooden pilings and use them as a base for your pelican garden statue. Although don’t overlook a pelican as a fun accent for an outdoor tiki bar or as an ornament for beach-themed yards, gardens, decks, balconies, or patios.

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Caring For Your Pelican

To keep your outdoor pelican statue looking its best when it’s exposed to the elements, you’ll want to make sure you follow the advice of the manufacturer on its care and for the specific material(s) it’s made out of. For example, to keep resin statues looking like new, and protected from UV rays and the weather in general, a polyurethane spray is typically applied once or twice a year.

It’s very common to place a pelican statue up off of the ground. Just remember that when doing so, you most likely will need to attach or secure your statue to whatever you are placing it on (unless it is made from something very heavy such as stone or concrete).

This will help to prevent it from being knocked over by strong winds or anything else for that matter. Some lightweight statues may have a hollow base that you can fill with sand or gravel to increase their weight and prevent them from being knocked over as well.

Pelican Statue Pals

Once they have one pelican, many people like to buy pelican statues in several different poses, materials, or styles. It’s also common to collect other types of birds that are associated with coastal and beach areas. For example, crane, stork, egret, and heron statues are often used alongside pelicans.

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And don’t forget about flamingos when you have a more tropical theme or would like to add a pop of pink. Probably the most popular pairing, however, are seagulls. Like pelicans, seagull statues commonly come with a base that looks like a wooden piling. And adding nautical décor on the walls near pelican statues such as ship wheels, fishing nets, life rings, along with lobster and crab statues can be an eye-catching finishing touch.