American White Pelican

One of the Pelicans at the Calgary Zoo. They never seem to be still when I'm there, feeding constantly on the little stream that runs through their enclosure. This is the male (you can see the remnants of the breeding "bump" on his upper bill) and there are two females with him. We do see Pelicans in the wild, too, but I believe there have been fewer of them this summer.

Or maybe I should say "One and a half..." Rather a weird photo but there was just something about the reflections that I liked. The top one is a male and the lower bird is female. Taken this afternoon at the Calgary Zoo in 32C weather, which is too hot for my liking. Having lived for six years in one of the hottest places on the planet - Muscat, Oman - you'd think I could deal with 32C, LOL. We do see these Pelicans in the wild here, too.

I have seen plenty of these beautiful, huge American White Pelicans in the wild, but this one was photographed at the Calgary Zoo this afternoon. I think they have beautiful eyes : ). This is the male and he and two females share a small pond. Interestingness#305 explore2008October19.

This is the male American White Pelican who shares a pond at the Calgary Zoo with two female Pelicans. For some strange reason, I'm fascinated by their eyes, LOL!

To be honest, I really don't know what my little point-and-shoot is capable of when it comes to taking in-flight shots. All I know is that I don't usually bother to even try, as photos really don't turn out. However, I was just lucky with this shot of a gorgeous American White Pelican that just happened to fly overhead. I was sitting watching a Harris's Hawk do a flight training demonstration at the Coaldale Bird of Prey Centre just over a week ago and caught sight of this guy.

Oops, I should have added my description immediately before anyone looked and commented, to say that this was not taken in the wild! Although I see American White Pelicans in the wild in and around Calgary, this particular Pelican is one of three who live at the Calgary Zoo (this male and two females). They swim on a small pond and share the outdoor, wooded area with Deer, ducks and Wild Turkeys. Really a lovely little area for them.

There are three American White Pelicans at the Calgary Zoo, this male and two females. They swim on a small pond and share the outdoor, wooded area with Deer, ducks and Wild Turkeys. Really a lovely little area for them. I do see Pelicans in the wild, but often at a great distance, except for down near the Bow River Weir in the city.

About eight of these enormous American White Pelicans circled way, way overhead while we were botanizing the Western Sky Land Trust's Wheatland #1, formerly Jack Nodwell’s Property, 59 acres of land near Carseland, Alberta, yesterday afternoon. This area is about half an hour's drive south east of the city. It's so amazing to see Pelicans flying on a bright, sunny day. One moment they are dazzling white in the sun; next moment, when they turn, they almost vanish from sight. A zoomed and cropped image, LOL.

I've seen plenty of American White Pelicans in the wild, but these two happen to be at the Zoo, hanging out in their lovely outdoor "creek". Left the house at 6:45 this morning and got home an hour ago, at 10:00 p.m. (which including stopping on the way home to have supper). We were lucky enough to get the chance to go on a trip southeast of Calgary, to see the Majorville Medicine Wheel! The trip also was to search for birds on the way there and back. Our first-class leader today was Greg Wagner, who was able to show us all sorts of birds (some of them "firsts" for me and others). I am SO tired, I can barely type a word that makes sense, but will just quickly mention a Long-billed Curlew, Sprague's Pipit, Horned Lark, Chestnut-collared Longspur, Ferruginous Hawk, Loggerhead Shrike, Vesper Sparrows, etc. Everything was far, far away and no good for photos, unfortunately. Many thanks for driving us all day, John - so much appreciated! www.royalalbertamuseum.ca/_toolbox/cnt_head.gif