The Pelican is closely related to the Shoebill Stork and the Hamerkop. Pelicans live near the coast feeding on fish near the water surface. They hunt cooperatively and are thought of as pests by commercial fisherman as they follow and swarm fishing boats looking for a meal. There are eight species of pelicans of which the brown pelican lives along the coastal areas of North and South America as well as in the Caribbean. This bird flies out from the harbor to meet one particular fisherman and rides back into the harbor with him every day, resulting in a free meal.