Colorado’s Most Surprising Resident
So who is Colorado’s most surprising resident? You might be thinking Oprah Winfrey (Telluride) or Tim Allen (Grand Lake) or “Dog the Bounty Hunter” (Castle Rock) but that’s not what I mean. After all, this is a bird photography newsletter, not People Magazine.
There is no species of bird that elicits the response of “I had no idea they’re in Colorado” than the pelican, specifically the White Pelican. My guess as to why this happens is twofold. One, the White Pelican’s cousin, the Brown Pelican, seen on the Gulf Coast or in southern California, is an ocean coast only species that can be confused with the White Pelican. (As always, I recommend clicking on any image to view larger)
Above - A Brown Pelican soars above the Gulf where it is commonly found
The second reason is that White Pelicans are “migrants” and thus not seen here half the year from November to April. During those months they join their cousins to lull on the beach. When pelicans arrive here in Colorado, they are almost always found over large bodies of water like Cherry Creek or Chatfield Reservoirs. You won’t find them at the feeder in your back yard. That said, I have indeed found some incredible exceptions that you’ll see below.
Above - This flock of White Pelicans was flying over the Mississippi River in Wisconsin. I love how the one is looking back at the others
You will notice that in some photos the pelicans have a “node” or “horn” that juts up from their upper bill. That is called a “caruncle” and it grows on both males and females at the beginning of breeding season and then simply falls off. Its purpose is not definitively known but it is surmised it serves some kind of significance in attracting a mate since it’s found only during courting season. It is even thought that (gasp!) size matters!
Above - This pair of White Pelicans was floating this Spring in Chatfield Reservoir. Here you can see they both have a caruncle on their beaks
Our pelicans are almost always found in large bodies of water like Cherry Creek State Park or Chatfield Reservoir but every once in a blue moon they appear where you’d never expect them, like tiny Sterne Park in Littleton or the even the tinier postage stamp of a pond called Ashbaugh Pond, also in Littleton.
Above - I took this photo at Ashbaugh Pond in Littleton a couple years ago. It was an unseasonably cold late Spring day and the pelican fluffed its feathers out while keeping one eye out for any trouble that could be brewing nearby
There are three reasons I love photographing pelicans. The first is their beauty in flight. Not only are they second only to the California Condor in wingspan size but they gracefully glide on their “final approach” while engaging their “brakes” (aka feet) when they hit the “runway” (aka water).
Above - This White Pelican is gliding on its final approach into Chatfield Reservoir
The second reason is their stunningly beautiful feathers, rivaling the Snowy Egret in texture and brilliant white color. Here are some examples below.
Third, they seem to have likeable personalities often making “goofy faces” with their lower bills as evidenced below.
Well, hope you enjoyed this post but I gotta run – time for my regularly scheduled afternoon tea with Oprah.