It rained most of the day here so I looked at a few Brown Pelican images taken in December in Florida where it was much sunnier in 2008.
Preening juvenile Brown Pelican in Florida – Nikon D200, handheld, f8, 1/350, ISO 160, Nikkor 80-400mm VR at 270mm, natural light
I miss seeing Brown Pelicans, we don’t have them here in Utah. They are so much fun to photograph whether they are preening, flying or diving from the air after prey. They capture their prey by diving from the air and splashing into the water head first. Makes me wonder how the juveniles learn that skill.
I looked on eBird and see that a Brown Pelican was seen in July of 2004 near the causeway to Antelope Island State Park (not confirmed by the records committee), and in May of 2004 at Newcastle Reservoir in south western Utah. Prior to 2004 there were sightings in 1984, 1972, 1944 and 1934 shown on UtahBirds.org.
I guess I will keep on looking for them here. Who knows, I won’t rule out seeing one. Or head to the West Coast.
Life is good.
Mia
Click here to see more of my Brown Pelican photos plus facts and information about this species.
Excellent image. I found this bit in the Daily Herold of Provo UT from Nov 2004: Only seven brown pelicans have been spotted and documented in Utah over the past 70 years, said Paul Grindrod, a wildlife education specialist from the Ogden Nature Center. [pelicanlife.org]
The Utah Division of Wildlife Resources paid for part of the journey to drive “Woody” to California this weekend. Richards admitted him into the Sea World Bird Department on Saturday morning. While he is healing in San Diego, “Woody” will live in a large suite with a swimming pool and another pelican. When he is ready, he will either be released in California or moved to an educational facility along the coast.
Love the pose and the feather detail is amazing… what a beauty!
Life is indeed good. And improved immeasurably by your images. Thank you.
He’s a beauty!!!!! Great, great capture!!!!!
Beautiful!!!