There's something about a pelican. Enormous, unhurried, completely unbothered by the world around them.

Australian pelicans are extraordinary. They're Australia's largest flying bird and have the longest bill of any bird in the world. They're also incredibly adaptable, nomadic birds found wherever there's enough water and fish to sustain them — from coastal beaches and estuaries to inland waterways.

And despite their size, they seem perfectly comfortable living alongside us. Perched rather ridiculously on top of a street light, gathered along the shoreline, or hanging around a fisherman hoping for a share of the day's catch.

Big, unmistakable and wonderfully Australian.

Acrylic and oil on canvas · 30 × 30 cm (12 × 12") · Original

Painted from a reference photograph by Shutterstock.