Feb. 15, 2011 - American White Pelicans
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American White Pelicans spend the winter along the southern coasts of the United States. Many people are surprised to find out that these birds move inland to raise their young. They breed on islands located within lakes in the northwestern U.S. and in southwestern Canada. Minnesota is on the eastern edge of their breeding territory. This migration pattern is one of the differences between them and the Brown Pelican, which spends the whole year along the coastline. All of these photos were taken at Ding Darling NWR on Sanibel Island near Fort Meyers, Florida.
White Pelicans are one of our largest North American species. They stand up to 63” tall with a 9-foot wingspan. This photo illustrates just how large they are. The Brown Pelican in the background looks smaller than it actually is because it is hunched down. But, the Laughing Gull in front is closer than the White Pelican and is still dwarfed by it.
These Pelicans are resting and preening on a sand bar at Ding Darling NWR. They are spectacular fliers and flocks of them are often seen soaring high in the air, floating upward on wind currents. They have very powerful wing beats and fly in either a straight line or a V formation during migration.
White Pelicans feed while floating on the surface of the water. A group of them works together to herd small fish into a circle or into shallow water. When the fish are concentrated, the birds dip their large bills in and scoop up the fish. This is in direct contrast to Brown Pelicans who dive from high above the water to catch their meals.
Here’s a White Pelican coming in for a landing. I wonder if those large feet skimming across the water were an inspiration for the first person who tried water skiing. This bird is starting to develop a knob on top of its beak. They get this knob before the breeding season and it is shed after their eggs are laid.
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