10,000 Birds

OCTOBER 8, 2015

The Brown Pelican and the Peruvian Pelican are closely related and once were considered the same species. They are indeed very similar in all plumage stages, but the Peruvian Pelican is nearly twice as big as its northern counterpart. Brown Pelicans in non-breeding plumage. Peruvian Pelican in non-breeding plumage.

Pelicans 157

Pelicans North America Peru Fish 157

10,000 Birds

JANUARY 14, 2021

The best season for the north-west circuit is February to May, during the rains when most birds breed. Due to its range of habitats, over 500 species (573 eBirded so far) have been recorded and it is often possible to see over 100 species in a day, including a good selection of pelicans, storks, waders, ducks, kingfishers and hornbills.

Africa 208

Africa Kenya Uganda Tanzania 208

10,000 Birds

APRIL 18, 2017

Taking my usual route along Okaloosa Island’s Beasley Park, I noted Laughing Gulls , Brown Pelicans , a Snowy Plover or two, and the usual packs of Sanderlings. For me, that moment came last week. There is no mistaking a Least Tern: they were back!

South America 103

South America United States Protection Pelicans 103

10,000 Birds

MARCH 31, 2014

The park is home to not one, not two, but large three colonies of breeding seabirds: the Brown Noddy , Magnificent Frigatebird , and Sooty Tern. No, that was not a typo, the Sooty Terns fly non-stop for an average of five years before they return to the Dry Tortugas to breed. Lots and lots of birds.

Birds 182

Birds Florida Groups Breeding 182

10,000 Birds

OCTOBER 24, 2014

August arrived and I was releasing birds knowing they’d need time to adapt prior to making that long flight across the Gulf of Mexico, headed to South America. Their population is in serious decline, so their breeding colonies are monitored by biologists. But I did one Brown Pelican release that was memorable.

Wildlife Rehabilitation 229

Wildlife Rehabilitation Ohio Tulsa West Virginia 229

10,000 Birds

JUNE 25, 2011

Undisturbed through thousands of generations by man or land predators, the birds accumulated piles of poop several meters thick and sat atop them with a proprietorial pride in huge colonies, breeding, feeding and creating even more guano. Now where have I heard that before?

Bolivia 194

Bolivia Chile America Spain 194