In this time of great concern and uncertainty for all of us, nature can provide a welcome respite from the issues of the day. Here in Southwest Florida, we are blessed with incredible natural surroundings and as spring arrives, we thought you might enjoy a series of posts to remind us of the beauty around us. So, here’s the first of the series: White Pelicans
One of the incredible bird species that winters in our area is the American White Pelican.
With a wingspan in excess of 9 feet, they are majestic flyers.
When returning to their resting sites on local sandbars, it is a beautiful sight to watch their spiraling descents.
Unlike the Brown Pelicans that dive for their food, White Pelicans catch fish from the water. Often, a group will form a circle in shallow water to trap fish inside. After returning from a fishing expedition, they sometimes enjoy taking a “bath” before moving onto a nearby sandbar to rest.
Breeding adults form a “horn” on the upper side of their bill that is sometimes visible on our local birds. However, they don’t nest in our area. Instead, they will be leaving us soon to begin the long journey to inland nesting sites in the northern plains.
Since 1971, Lemon Bay Conservancy has focused on protecting our local environment through our mission areas of Saving Land, Protecting Water Quality, Environmental Education, and Advocacy.
To learn more about our programs and initiatives, and how you can get involved, please visit us at LemonBayConservancy.org.