Pelican Squadron

by Dawn Currie

Title

Pelican Squadron

Artist

Dawn Currie

Medium

Photograph - Digital

Description

Photographic artwork by Dawn Currie. Five members of a American White Pelican Squadron flying over T.M. Goodwin Waterfowl Management Area.

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American White Pelican (Pelecanus erythrorhynchos): Breeding on lakes throughout the northern Great Plains and mountain West, the American White Pelican is one of the largest birds in North America. It winters along the coasts, but breeds only inland. They can weigh as much as 30 pounds and their wing spans can exceed nine feet.

American White Pelicans breed from Alberta and Saskatchewan south to northern California, Utah, and Colorado; also breed along the Gulf Coast in southern Texas and northern Mexico. They spend winters in the southern U.S. in California, Arizona, and the Gulf Coast states south to Panama. Preferred habitats include shallow lakes and coastal lagoons.

The White Pelican does not dive for fish as the Brown Pelican does. Instead, it dips its head underwater to scoop up fish. Several pelicans may fish cooperatively, moving into a circle to concentrate fish, and then dipping their heads under simultaneously to catch fish. These Pelicans are graceful fliers, either singly, in flight formations, or soaring on thermals in flocks.

Because of human disturbance and the draining of wetlands, this species is in decline. The number of active colonies has dropped sharply in recent decades.

Favorite wintering spots for these birds, and meccas for birding in east central Florida include Merritt Island National Wildlife Refuge, Sebastian Inlet, and TM Goodwin Waterfowl Management Area.

Uploaded

January 20th, 2014

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