March 12, 2017 - Sanibel - American White Pelicans

I saw lots of American White Pelicans when we visited Sanibel Island, Florida, in January. Their white bodies and black wing feathers make then instantly recognizable. Their long, pink beak has an expandable yellow pouch under the lower mandible. That comes in handy when they scoop fish out of the water. All these photos were taken at Ding Darling National Wildlife Refuge.

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White Pelicans are one of our largest birds. They have a 9-foot wingspan! When you see them flying overhead, they are truly impressive.

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I’m only including this photo to emphasize how large these birds are. In the center of the photo there are two Snowy Egrets and they are totally dwarfed by the pelicans standing behind them. The pelican in the upper right has the start of a growth on the top of its beak. This becomes a large knob during breeding season. The purpose of this knob is not known but it is probably involved in attracting a mate.

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This sand bar was a favorite gathering spot for a large group of White Pelicans. Each morning I saw them here resting and preening.

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I thought this was a funny scene. All of these pelicans were swimming along in a long, single file line as if they were playing follow the leader.

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As more pelicans flew in to join the group I was able to get some nice shots of them landing. This photo was taken at the precise moment this bird’s feet touched the water. The brown bars on its chest and belly are reflections from the water.

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