 Parents of ground @-@ nesting species sometimes drag older young around roughly by the head before feeding them . From about 25 days old , the young of these species gather in " pods " or " crèches " of up to 100 birds in which parents recognise and feed only their own offspring . By 6 – 8 weeks they wander around , occasionally swimming , and may practise communal feeding . Young of all species fledge 10 – 12 weeks after hatching . They may remain with their parents afterwards , but are now seldom or never fed . They are mature at three or four years old . Overall breeding success is highly variable . Pelicans live for 15 to 25 years in the wild , although one reached an age of 54 years in captivity . 
