Have you ever seen a young pelican? Now could be your chance after chicks hatched in London’s St James’s Park for the first time in 360 YEARS
Four baby pelicans have hatched in St James's Park for the first time in 362 years, marking a significant milestone for the iconic London park. The chicks were born in May and have now been introduced to the main lake after spending their first twelve weeks in a private area, allowing park visitors to see the young birds for themselves.
Pelicans were first introduced to St James's Park in 1664 as a gift from the Russian Ambassador, and more than forty have lived there since. The park's four new chicks are still unnamed and have yet to be weighed and measured to determine their genders; their dark brown feathers will gradually turn white over the coming year as they mature.
- Four pelicans born in London park after 362-year absence from breeding.
- Chicks now visible to public after twelve weeks in private area.
- Pelicans have lived in park since 1664 but never bred before.
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St James's Park in central London is home to a long-established population of pelicans that have attracted visitors for centuries. These large, striking birds are an unusual feature of a central London park.
Pelicans were first brought to St James's Park in 1664 as a gift from the Russian Ambassador. Over the generations since then, more than forty pelicans have lived in the park, establishing a continuous presence that has lasted for centuries.
Young pelicans have not been born in the park for over 360 years, making the recent hatching of four chicks a rare and significant event. The chicks were born in May and have dark brown feathers that will gradually turn white over the coming year.