October is Pelican Migration Time!

Who knew you could see pelicans in Kentucky?

Who knew you could see pelicans in Kentucky?

I thought they were tropical.

What’s a pelican?

Pelicans (genus Pelecanus) are a genus of large water birds that make up the family Pelecanidae. They are characterized by a long beak and a large throat pouch used for catching prey and draining water from the scooped-up contents before swallowing. From Wikipedia

Pelicans will frequent inland waterways but are most known for residing along the coast. I’ve seen the brown pelicans (above) in Florida many times. They feed principally on fish by diving into the water and catching them at/near the water's surface. It’s a real good time to watch them from the beach!

A beer and a blanket at the beach and a free show.

They are hilarious to watch.

The pelicans I’ve primarily seen in Florida are the brown pelicans, but occasionally the American White pelican will appear.

American White Pelicans (above) are usually spotted in Florida during winter from November to March, but some stay all year. It is a massive bird with a wingspan of up to nine feet.

American White Pelicans do not plunge dive, but feed by dipping their large pouched bill into the water and scooping up fish.  Their massive bill and expansive pouch can hold up to three gallons of water plus fish. They drain the water and eat the fish.

While I was aware of these two types of pelicans, I’ve never given much thought to migratory tendencies.

Apparently, American White Pelican flocks in migration stop on lakes and rivers. They can be found as far north as Canada. These birds move south in winter to the Pacific coasts of Central America and the United States. They also spend the winter near the Gulf Coast, from Florida down to Mexico, as far to the south as Costa Rica. These pelicans are sometimes also seen on some Caribbean islands. They inhabit freshwater bogs, swamps, rivers, and lakes, and may sometimes occur in saltwater habitats, like estuaries.

We were at Land Between the Lakes National Recreation Area today, (October 14, 2024) on the Kentucky side, when we saw the American White Pelicans on the lake. Land Between the Lakes National Recreation Area is 171,280 acres in Kentucky and Tennessee between Lake Barkley and Kentucky Lake.

Who knew?

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