London waited more than 360 years for this scene: four pelican chicks are born in St James’s Park, surprising experts, resembling little dinosaurs, and turning an isolation caused by avian flu into a historic chapter for the birds that have lived alongside British royalty since 1664.

Written by Viviane Alves

Published on 20/06/2026 at 07:22

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Four pelicans were born in the traditional London park, where the species has lived for over three centuries, and now receive specialized care before their first entry into the water.

An unprecedented scene surprised specialists, caregivers, and visitors in the heart of London.

Four pelican chicks were born in St James’s Park, located in the central region of the British capital.

The event represents the first successful natural reproduction of these birds in the park in over 360 years.

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Historic birth surprises specialists in the heart of London

The reproduction surprised the professionals responsible for the conservation of the British royal parks.

According to Mark Wasilewski, manager of St James’s Park, the team was astonished by the birth of the four chicks.

The manager told the newspaper The Guardian that the episode represents a completely unprecedented situation for the local staff.

All the chicks remained alive during the first month, a result that increased the caregivers’ optimism.

The birth has come to be considered a milestone in the environmental history of the traditional London park.

Three dark pelican chicks gathered in a nest made of branches and natural materials. — Pelican chicks rest together in the nest during the initial development phase, after the historic birth recorded in St James’s Park, London.

Pelicans have lived in St James’s Park since the reign of Charles II

The history of pelicans in St James’s Park began in 1664, during the reign of Charles II.

In that year, the Russian ambassador presented the British Crown with the first pair of these birds.

The pelicans have since become well-known residents and symbols of the royal park.

No previous generation, however, had managed to reproduce naturally with success at the location.

The four chicks represent the first successful brood since the arrival of the pelicans at the park.

The birth ended a wait that spanned different reigns and more than three centuries of British history.

Isolation during avian flu may have favored reproduction

An avian flu outbreak temporarily altered the routine of the six adult pelicans at the beginning of 2026.

The birds were kept isolated in a protected area of Duck Island as a safety measure.

The caretakers released the animals to roam the park again in April.

The team noticed shortly after the release that the pelicans had started building nests.

The period of isolation may have favored the closeness between the birds and stimulated reproductive behavior.

Mark Wasilewski humorously related the prolonged cohabitation to the birth of the chicks.

The females Star and Gargi participated in reproduction along with the adult males of the group.

Unusual appearance made chicks resemble small dinosaurs

The chicks were born featherless, with dark bodies, and completely dependent on the adult pelicans.

Park employees compared the small birds to dinosaurs because of their appearance in the first days.

The unusual aspect did not reduce the brood’s appetite, which began to grow rapidly.

Mark Wasilewski explained that the intense food consumption is a positive sign during this phase.

The accelerated development also increased the survival expectations of the four chicks.

Experts monitor growth and health of the brood

The conservation work brings together professionals from St James’s Park, the Blackpool Zoo, and the Royal Veterinary College.

Specialists monitor the feeding, growth, and health conditions of the new park residents.

The technical collaboration aims to ensure that the entire brood safely reaches the next stages of development.

The chicks have not yet started swimming with the adult pelicans.

The first entry into the water should occur when the birds are approximately 12 weeks old.

Visitors must keep their distance from the nests

Visitors need to respect the safety guidelines established by the St James’s Park administration.

The public should keep their distance from the nests and avoid movements that could scare the pelicans.

This precaution allows the adults to continue protecting and feeding the chicks without external interference.

The first brood of pelicans born in St James’s Park in over 360 years can thus continue to grow safely.

The event represents a historic chapter for the local wildlife and for the royal parks of London.

Could the birth of these four pelicans increase the attention given to bird conservation in urban parks? Share your opinion!

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London waited more than 360 years for this scene: four pelican chicks are born in St James’s Park, surprising experts, resembling little dinosaurs, and turning an isolation caused by avian flu into a historic chapter for the birds that have lived alongside British royalty since 1664.

Four pelicans were born in the traditional London park, where the species has lived for over three centuries, and now receive specialized care before their first entry into the water.

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Pelicans have lived in St James’s Park since the reign of Charles II

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London waited more than 360 years for this scene: four pelican chicks are born in St James’s Park, surprising experts, resembling little dinosaurs, and turning an isolation caused by avian flu into a historic chapter for the birds that have lived alongside British royalty since 1664.

Four pelicans were born in the traditional London park, where the species has lived for over three centuries, and now receive specialized care before their first entry into the water.

Historic birth surprises specialists in the heart of London

Pelicans have lived in St James’s Park since the reign of Charles II

Pato Merlin becomes a phenomenon at the 2026 World Cup by wearing a Mexican jersey, garnering millions of views, and even challenging FIFA’s official mascots in popularity.

Isolation during avian flu may have favored reproduction

Unusual appearance made chicks resemble small dinosaurs

Experts monitor growth and health of the brood

Visitors must keep their distance from the nests

Libya built over 4,000 kilometers of underground pipelines to bring water from the Sahara to coastal cities in a project that the government itself called the Eighth Wonder of the World.

Desert sand, previously discarded for being too smooth for concrete, becomes an ecological brick in the United Arab Emirates, dispensing with Portland cement, curing at room temperature, and attempting to transform dunes useless for construction into raw material for a new arid engineering.

He transformed an abandoned plastic water tank into an underground house in the “hobbit hole” style, using only repurposed pallet wood, without heavy machinery or expensive labor.

China transforms desert-devastated area into the world’s largest artificial forest, planting trees for 60 years, blocking sand that reached Beijing, and creating a “green lung” of 92,000 hectares in a region once considered lost.

Toyota launches “family hybrid van” with 7 or 8 seats, 1.8 hybrid engine, fuel consumption of up to 23.8 km/l, and a price equivalent to about R$ 104,000 without taxes, below the Tiggo 8 Pro Plug-in Hybrid sold in Brazil: meet the Noah Hybrid 2026 in Japan.

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NASA captured by satellite an underwater volcano erupting in the Bismarck Sea, in the Pacific, and now scientists are waiting to see if a new island will be born there in front of the cameras, a very rare phenomenon to witness live from space.

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