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White Pelicans: True Snowbirds

Are you a lifelong learner? I am, and whenever I come across something new and amazing, it thrills me to no end. This time, it’s American white pelicans.

Do you remember a few years ago when we had a few white pelicans here on Chautauqua Lake? At the time, I thought, “What are pelicans doing this far north?” Silly me. Those birds still had miles and miles to go. They were on their way home from their wintering grounds along the Gulf of Mexico to the inland lakes of the prairie regions of the United States and Canada (animaldiversity.ummz.umich.edu/accounts/Pelicanus-erythrorhynchos).

White pelicans are one of the largest waterbirds in North America, much like the Trumpeter swan. If you measure their huge beak, they can have an overall length of 50-70 inches! Second only to the California condor, these guys can boast a wingspan of 95-120 inches. Most weigh between 11-20 pounds, but some heavyweights come in around 30 pounds (wikipedia.org). Their legs are short, their feet are webbed, and their long bill has an extensive pouch. Bright white plumage covers their bodies and their short tail (www.allaboutbirds.org/guide/american-whitepelican). But, despite their size and shape, white pelicans are graceful birds, soaring high and flying in unison.

This winter, I was able to observe a huge flock of white pelicans on a pond of reclaimed water near my wintering grounds, just south of Tampa Bay, Fla., where they were waiting for the northern lakes to thaw out. In fact, they were still there when I left for New York on April 12. The birds who breed east of the Continental Divide migrate to the Gulf of Mexico area, and those who breed to the west head for coast in Baja, California and western Mexico. A few, like some humans as we age, decide to stay year-round in the southern warmth (Knopf and Evans, 2004).

The behavior of white pelicans surprised me. I thought they would be just like brown pelicans only a different color. Wrong. White pelicans are social birds and stay together in large groups, while brown pelicans are often seen alone or with just one or two other birds. They also seem to tolerate human presence until they sense you are encroaching on them. Then they all move away en masse.

Brown pelicans, on the other hand, will sometimes sit right next to you, especially if you are fishing and they think they can steal a meal. They don’t dive to get their food like their cousins, either. They forage in shallow waters looking for fish, crustaceans and amphibians. By dipping their bills into the water while swimming, they can scoop the prey into their gular pouch, using it like a fishing net. And sometimes the flock works together in cooperative groups to herd the fish into shallower water (Knoft and Evans, 2004). It was fun to watch them swim together and bob their heads into the water as they fed.

In the spring, when the birds finally reach their inland breeding grounds, which can extend from British Columbia, Alberta, Saskatchewan, Manitoba and southwestern Ontario to northern California, Nevada, Colorado, Idaho and Minnesota, they tend to seek out isolated islands to lessen the risk of being preyed upon by red foxes or coyotes. Bald eagles, gulls and owls also prey on the pelicans’ eggs and young. Interestingly, the pelican will flee if threatened by mammals, but will stay and fight, using their bills to jab, if other birds come after them. White pelican numbers have increased in recent years, even though usually only one baby per nest survives. Their nests consist of shallow depressions which are scraped into the ground and lined with sticks, reeds or similar materials. Females may lay 2-3 eggs which both parents incubate under their foot webs for about a month (Knopf and Evans, 2004).

Wouldn’t it be great to see white pelicans again on Chautauqua? Maybe some strong winds will blow a few our way. Or, if the word gets out that a Great Egret has taken up residence, some true “snow birds” will come to check us out too. We can only hope and, until then, enjoy the end of winter with a walk outdoors. See you on the trails!

Susan M. Songster Weaver is retired teacher, nature lover and longtime CWC volunteer and supporter. The Chautauqua Watershed Conservancy is a local nonprofit organization that is dedicated to preserving and enhancing the water quality, scenic beauty and ecological health of the lakes, streams, wetlands and watersheds of the Chautauqua region. For more information, call 664-2166 or visit www.chautauquawatershed.org or www.facebook.com/chautauquawatershed.

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