Tail feathers!

[JimD]

Unidentified birdwatcher rigged for silent running with troll motor and armed only with camera begins his quest for the elusive Alberta white pelican...

http://www.imagestation.com/picture/sraid176/pb7e0c37140956bcdcc44980778343f42/f35c615d.jpg

Rumour has it they have been spotted up this little bay...

http://www.imagestation.com/picture/sraid176/p34fec28b6f51648a29315af78983e1ce/f35c5db5.jpg

And there they are! Let's see if we can sneak in for a closer look...

http://www.imagestation.com/picture/sraid176/p37d8e96d03c02a4f558432ad19fb2ec4/f35c6fa2.jpg

But they've seen me coming. And they're off...

http://www.imagestation.com/picture/sraid176/pedd5a4768d4a621414043b772d88d37c/f35c6a3b.jpg

http://www.imagestation.com/picture/sraid176/p6f8a0ee7a4bd5cc7a2cd3f813de4e337/f35c65ae.jpg

http://www.imagestation.com/picture/sraid176/p57a640556e0eeec7681197b3ce879a73/f35c6464.jpg

And away they go. Nothing but pelican tail lights...

http://www.imagestation.com/picture/sraid176/pa74a9ade222c153cc4b48c5c6e1d28fa/f35c62ae.jpg

Let's go see if we have better luck with the herons. :cool:

[Bruce Hooke]

smile.gif :D smile.gif

[BrianW]

Nice pictures, thanks!

[JimJ]

How come you have Australian Pelicans in Alberta

http://www.amonline.net.au/factsheets/australian_pelican.htm

http://www.oceanwideimages.com.au/categories.asp?cID=86&c=83915

[Noah]

Yeah, I'm confused too...is there a trick being played on us, or does Alberta really have Pelicans?

Right, a quick google search shows that they are really up there. Close 1000 nesting pairs now.

http://raysweb.net/specialplaces/pages/pelican.html

[ 07-08-2005, 11:13 AM: Message edited by: Noah ]

[JimD]

When I first heard Alberta had pelicans I thought someone was pulling my leg. These ones were at a place called Chain Lakes, a very small man made lake with a provincial park/campground but mostly surrounded by farmland, about an hour drive south of Calgary.
This is the Glen-L Utility we were sightseeing with. Meranti plywood with pine seating.

http://www.imagestation.com/picture/sraid176/p2b4f0f36ad28f6fa34dfb5bca16d59aa/f35c4268.jpg

[Bryan Mehus]

Lived in Alberta almost half my life, never seen nor heard of no pelicans. Thanks Jim maybe there is a reason to move back. Got any Salt water? Other than the "tar sands".

[Donn]

If you want to get closer to those critters, pile up a bunch of dried brush and foliage on the boat. Think "duck boat."

http://www.fishingsanteecooper.com/DSCN0897.JPG

[Venchka]

Seen 'em in Lake Yellowstone and the Yellowstone River. Easy to assume some of them wandered up to Alberty. Their brown cousins enjoy fishing behind my office. Neat birds.

Wayne
In the Swamp. :D

[JimD]

Originally posted by Bryan Mehus:
Lived in Alberta almost half my life, never seen nor heard of no pelicans. Thanks Jim maybe there is a reason to move back. Got any Salt water? Other than the "tar sands".Nope, no salt water, Bryan. Just pelicans :D

[JimJ]

If you are perplexed about pelicans in Alberta, imagine pelicans by the millions in the desert of northern South Australia.

http://www.aussiepelicans.com/lakeeyre.html

http://www.lakeeyrebasin.org.au/archive/pages/page03.html (http://www.lakeeyrebasin.org.au/archive/pages/page03.html)

I flew in that area in support of oil and gas exploration in the 70s. During the dry years not a pelican was seen in the area, but as soon as the lakes filled after rain, pelicans and other water-birds came in their millions. Sadly, as the lakes dried up, the ones that did not leave stayed there forever.

[ 07-13-2005, 07:25 PM: Message edited by: JimJ ]

[Donn]

.

[Wild Wassa]

This is an Australian Pelican, that I photographed on Sydney Harbour.

http://www.imagestation.com/picture/sraid22/pa80222f3090575853b327df7bdb7b832/fda96d0b.jpg

Warren.

[Meerkat]

Originally posted by Wild Wassa:
This is an Australian Pelican, that I photographed on Sydney Harbour.

http://www.imagestation.com/picture/sraid22/pa80222f3090575853b327df7bdb7b832/fda96d0b.jpg

Warren.Sydney pelican eh? I guess that explains why it's pink! ;) :D

[Wild Wassa]

Meerkat, :D , over here real men go to Mallacoota to look at Pelicans.

Warren.

[ 07-16-2005, 01:03 PM: Message edited by: Wild Wassa ]