Birds of prey in general are beautiful! I'm partial to Kestrels :) Do you think you'd be happier if you dedicated time towards crafting? I imagine it's probably a lot of fun, just hard to prioritize. I used to really enjoy calligraphy, but it's been a long time since I've done any...Maybe we should have a weekly crafting thread? Could be fun to see what everyone's making, and I'm always down for more community engagement on Hubski. If you need a project, I'd happily commission something from you - I've been needing a new journal :)
I didn't truly understand Pelicans until I moved to Los Angeles. You see those fuckers swooping inches above the surf, occasionally dipping a feather in because they have no fucks to give, flying in tight formation like the goddamn Blue Angels, and you know that pterodactyls didn't go extinct they just evolved feathers. 
The more I learn about Albatross' the cooler they become. Oh they'll head out to sea now, when will they be back? "Maybe a year or two". Wut. Like, gliding? "Yep. Could be several years if they're young. Oh and they usually mate for life." Aw. Me learning about the Royal Albatross at their lovely conservation area in Taiaroa Head. They even have a live stream! 
That picture looks more like a camera glitch than something that actually existed, I love it. Pelicans are impressive - we have a few where I'm from, but the lakes around here aren't exactly bountiful... Ah. You've made me miss the ocean, congratulations!
That is a wonderful picture of an absolutely gorgeous bird! Fun fact, while they're all closely related, American Kestrels are closer related to regular falcons than true kestrels (I literally just learned this on Wikipedia, so thanks for the mini journey). I've seen tons of various raptors in the wild, from hawks to eagles to owls to vultures. I've never been fortunate enough to see a falcon though, let alone a kestrel. I'll take that as a sign that I just need to explore outdoors more. I really do enjoy making stuff and I think focusing some more time on crafting would do me good. I just have a problem right now where I have so many interests and not a lot of time. That said, a regular or semi-regular craft thread on Hubski sounds like a great idea. It'd be a great way to exchange information and ideas, and of course, motivate people to finish projects. Let me PM you about that journal . . .