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Pompano
Elite Nomad
Posts: 8194
Registered: 11-14-2004
Location: Bay of Conception and Up North
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Mood: Optimistic
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Brown Pelicans v.s. White Pelicans
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]
I do what the voices in my tackle box tell me.
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Frigatebird
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Location: L.A. County
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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.
Avatar courtesy of Herb 
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Cypress
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Location: on the bayou
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White pelicans winter down here along the northern Gulf of Mexico. See 'em on a regular basis this time of year.
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Pompano
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Location: Bay of Conception and Up North
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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.
I do what the voices in my tackle box tell me.
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coronamike
Junior Nomad
Posts: 45
Registered: 5-28-2006
Location: Morro Bay
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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.
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Sandlefoot
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Location: La Paz
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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
" Don't find fault, find a remedy; anyone can complain." Henry Ford
If you are not living on the edge...you are taking up to much space!
Just because it may not be a good idea does not mean it will not be fun!!!
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basautter
Senior Nomad
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Thanks for the interesting post! I will be watching for the White Pelicans.
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güero
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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.
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durrelllrobert
Elite Nomad
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Location: Punta Banda BC
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rapidly recovering from a close call to extinction!
[Edited on 1-27-2014 by durrelllrobert]
Bob Durrell
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Ken Bondy
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Squadron of them in Morro Bay:
carpe diem!
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Skipjack Joe
Elite Nomad
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Registered: 7-12-2004
Location: Bahia Asuncion
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| 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.
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Whale-ista
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Location: San Diego
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Mood: Sunny with chance of whales
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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.
\"Probably the airplanes will bring week-enders from Los Angeles before long, and the beautiful poor bedraggled old town will bloom with a
Floridian ugliness.\" (John Steinbeck, 1940, discussing the future of La Paz, BCS, Mexico)
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captkw
Ultra Nomad
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Location: el charro b.c.s.
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Mood: new dog/missing the old 1
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pelicans
That I Always call the Mexican Air Force.....
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MICK
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We have had as many as 300 swimming by our house most every year on the rio hardy
Mick
Getting there is ALL the fun!
Ok being here is fun to
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mulegemichael
Super Nomad
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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.
dyslexia is never having to say you\'re yrros.
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Ateo
Elite Nomad
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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.
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BigOly
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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.
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shari
Select Nomad
Posts: 13033
Registered: 3-10-2006
Location: bahia asuncion, baja sur
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Mood: there is no reality except the one contained within us "Herman Hesse"
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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]
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jimgrms
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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
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Pompano
Elite Nomad
Posts: 8194
Registered: 11-14-2004
Location: Bay of Conception and Up North
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Mood: Optimistic
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| 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]
I do what the voices in my tackle box tell me.
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