BajaNomad

Brown Pelicans v.s. White Pelicans

Pompano - 1-26-2014 at 12:18 PM

Brown


So...anyone who been to the beaches and shores of Baja has seen this common bird...The Brown Pelican...which, thanks to a trend towards conservation and no more DDT, is rapidly recovering from a close call to extinction. Call him Pelecanus occidentalis if you must. Like every other seaside resident, I see and photograph these marine birds every day on the Cortez side of Baja Sur. The Brown Pelican is unique due in large part to their feeding strategy – it is the only pelican species to dive from the air into the water to catch its prey with its specialized beaked pouch.







White


Just wondered where anyone has seen his White Pelican brother from the North? Pelecanus erythrorhynchos. One of the largest North American birds, I believe it's wingspan is on a par with the trumpeter swan (96"-114"") and only beat by the California Condor. Truly huge and weighing in at 30 lbs...it's Big Bird!


I took these photos from where I've seen them on lakes & rivers in Canada, some Midwestern states like ND, SD, MN, MT, WY, etc....and the latest being a huge gathering near Salt Lake City, Utah. I saw many groups of white pelicans paddling together to 'herd' baitfish into a ball and then dipping their beaks for lunch. Good teamwork.









Kinda like that huge potato the Idaho farmer is looking for...I'm wondering where else are the white pelicans found? Have you seen them?



[Edited on 1-27-2014 by Pompano]

Frigatebird - 1-26-2014 at 12:59 PM

I once saw a squadron of some 100 birds thermally high over Fort Irwin NTC heading north, no pictures though. Thought they were on their way to Owens valley water rest stops.

Cypress - 1-26-2014 at 12:59 PM

White pelicans winter down here along the northern Gulf of Mexico. See 'em on a regular basis this time of year.:)

Pompano - 1-26-2014 at 01:03 PM

Yes...it's amazing how high these white pelicans fly when migrating. Hard to make out their formations with the naked eye...binoculars are definitely suggested.

coronamike - 1-26-2014 at 01:34 PM

We see them in Morro Bay daubing in the mud in the back bay. Only certain times of the year tho. And when they soar overhead in a big flock it is quite a sight. They are unmistakable with a striking white body and wings with a patch of black on the wing bottom.

Sandlefoot - 1-26-2014 at 03:41 PM

Klamath Falls Oregon. They are always on Klamath Lake (when it is not frozen over). The local high school is the Klamath Union Pelicans. Grew up there and did not know there where other kinds until I saw them diving at Posada conception while visiting my uncle. Now I watch them every day here in La Paz!!!

Happy Trails

basautter - 1-26-2014 at 04:57 PM

Thanks for the interesting post! I will be watching for the White Pelicans.

güero - 1-26-2014 at 05:05 PM

I've seen them quite often at Estero Coyote and Estero Bocana. I have heard from my Mexican friends that they taste a lot better than the browns. Kind of like turkey.

rapidly recovering from a close call to extinction!

durrelllrobert - 1-26-2014 at 05:21 PM



[Edited on 1-27-2014 by durrelllrobert]

Ken Bondy - 1-26-2014 at 08:08 PM

Squadron of them in Morro Bay:

Skipjack Joe - 1-27-2014 at 12:27 AM

Quote:
Originally posted by Sandlefoot
Klamath Falls Oregon. They are always on Klamath Lake (when it is not frozen over). The local high school is the Klamath Union Pelicans. Grew up there and did not know there where other kinds until I saw them diving at Posada conception while visiting my uncle. Now I watch them every day here in La Paz!!!

Happy Trails


Yes, I've also seen them frequently at the Klamath Wildlife Refuge in Modoc County, CA.

They like the Sacramento River as well. I would see them while fishing for shad.

They must be 4 times the size of our brown pelicans.

Whale-ista - 1-27-2014 at 12:50 AM

Beautiful photos! Thank you for the post.

We had a group of whites in the San Diego river channel last winter. They really stood out due to size and color. I saw them for a few weeks on my way home from work each evening. Haven't spotted any this year though.

pelicans

captkw - 1-27-2014 at 03:00 AM

That I Always call the Mexican Air Force.....:lol:

MICK - 1-27-2014 at 07:24 AM

We have had as many as 300 swimming by our house most every year on the rio hardy
Mick

mulegemichael - 1-27-2014 at 08:01 AM

quite a bunch of great whites live in potholes reservoir up in central washington...until it freezes over, that is...then they jump south to the columbia river by hermiston oregon.

Ateo - 1-27-2014 at 08:07 AM

While out surfing in San Juanico a few years ago, I entered into a staring match with a brown pelican. I thought I was tough and even raised my shoulders briefly as to say, "what you got?"

Well, that pelican followed me around and came after me, trying to bite or peck at me for 20 minutes. At one moment I had to jump off my board and use it as a barrier between him and I.

I will never do that again. Everyone was laughing at me.

BigOly - 1-27-2014 at 08:14 AM

We saw many at the Malheur Wildlife Refuge in Eastern Oregon. When they flew over in flocks of hundreds about 100' above us, it sounded like a huge fan blowing.

shari - 1-27-2014 at 09:35 AM

I have seen brown pelicans attach people on the beach before...seemed like they were very hungry.

There is a white pelican flock in the calving lagoon Ojo de Liebre that are oh so beautiful to see.



[Edited on 1-27-2014 by shari]

jimgrms - 1-27-2014 at 12:17 PM

Got a pelican buddy in oceanside on the pier .always stop and get him some sardines at the fish store , He is even on the internet Charlie the pelican o'side pier

Pompano - 1-27-2014 at 12:23 PM

Quote:
Originally posted by jimgrms
Got a pelican buddy in oceanside on the pier .always stop and get him some sardines at the fish store , He is even on the internet Charlie the pelican o'side pier



Hmm....I just might have a photo of that buddy of yours, Jim. I've walked out on that pier many times with camera in hand and do recall snapping a pelican's portrait.


Hey...just found it. But...how can one be sure it's the same one? They are ALL photo hams!

Here's MY buddy from the Oceanside Pier...



[Edited on 1-27-2014 by Pompano]

jimgrms - 1-27-2014 at 01:19 PM

Yep thats Charlie , i think )) The bait shop dude has taken to selling sticks with rubber fish hanging of the end
and the parents buy them for there kids to play feed the pelicans , which the Pelicans do not appreciate , and they do bite

[Edited on 1-27-2014 by jimgrms]

Pompano - 1-27-2014 at 01:33 PM

Now that you mention it, Jim...I recall that pelican did take a nip at Co-pilot's hand when she tried to pet him.

Well.....I did warn her that petting a pelican was probably not a good thing to do, but she comes from the Disney-world style of approaching animals.

Skipjack Joe - 1-27-2014 at 09:03 PM

An unusual shot of a feeding pelican:

docsmom - 1-31-2014 at 09:19 PM

I've actually seen them in Tucson. They stop at a very small lake in a neighborhood park, on their way south. What a site! White pelicans, in Tucson. Thought I was going to give up the tequila 'till I did a little research.

treuboff - 1-31-2014 at 10:29 PM

Fond a young one blown off course by the monsoon in Skull Valley. Picked him up and took him to the local zoo. He enjoyed the air conditioning in the truck but he only rewarded me with lice that crawled like a army all over my body. They are very flat and cannot be picked off. Kinda like those South American flat bugs that mad Magazine put on their pages that only moved when you closed the book up. Luckily they can only survive on the Brown Pelican. A quick shower and put my clothes in the hot dryer.