St James's administrator, a park in downtown London said he is "really excited" after the birth of four pelican chicks.
Pelicans were first introduced to the park in 1664 and have been a permanent part of it since 1897. However, according to the management of the Royal Parks, it is the first time that pelicans who live permanently there manage to successfully hatch chicks, according to his information BBC.
The chicks, about a month old, currently live in a private and protected park area, where they grow stronger. They are expected to join the lake's six adult white pelicans when they turn 9 to 12 weeks.
Baby Pelicans in St James's Park! https://t.co/RDpBZ98i3B pic.twitter. com/PbMfi14Czi— dan barker (@danbarker) June 19, 2026
Park manager, Mark Vasilevsky, described their arrival as "historical success" after more than 360 years of Pelecan presence on the site.
"I look forward to watching their mischiefs as they grow up, join the herd and develop their own special character," he said.
He added that the amount of food given to pelicans has increased to have as many fish as they need.
"At the moment our priority is to ensure young people the safest and best possible start in their lives, so that their parents take care of them and evolve into healthy and strong adult birds".
St James's Park Pelicans hatch first picks ️ https://t.co/4bMGQ6nQOv pic.twitter. com/GpivWPyXIB— BBC London (@BBCLondonNews) June 19, 2026
At the same time, he invited visitors not to approach the chicks, to keep their dogs on a leash around the lake and to avoid anything that may cause them anxiety or discomfort.
The Royal Parks charity, which manages the park, announced that it is working closely with wildlife protection organizations, such as Blackpool Zoo, Royal Veterinary College and the Zoological Society of London, to ensure the best possible care for the young.
The birds have not yet been named. Nick Burnham, senior wildlife manager of the Royal Parks, described the event as "the top moment of his career".
"It was wonderfully exciting to see them come out of the eggs and take their first steps with their membrane legs.
We will continue to monitor them closely and ensure that their parents are fed properly. Pelicans are used to living in large herds, so we believe that the new members will adapt very well.".