Every summer, great white pelicans make their way to Colorado to fish for trout in stocked reservoirs. I've always been fascinated by the fact that these giant sea birds come to Colorado, so far from an ocean. They don't breed here, they don't over winter here; they just hang out and eat. Awhile back, I tried to get some pictures of a flock of pelicans that fish at Standley Lake, near my home. With a 5-year old and a dachshund along to encourage them to the far corners, my best picture was of pelican butt, from a distance.
Not being the type to give up, I waited until yesterday, when I could go to the lake alone, and wait patiently for the pelicans to come to me. The lake was particularly full, and the marshes near the inlet of Little Dry Creek were flooded. As I came across a small, temporary pond, I found the flock. When I arrived, there were a half dozen pelicans, a handful of ducks, and a bunch of Canadian geese. The geese weren't bothered by my presence (one even came fairly close, presumably to see if I had any food) but the pelicans were quite wary. Most of them took off, or dashed to the far edges of the pond:
One brave pelican hung behind, keeping a safe distance, but refusing to give up the prime fishing grounds:
An American White Pelican (Pelecanus erythrorhynchos)
Here are a few more images: (Click on any of the thumbnails to open in a new window.)
I find it curious that the pelicans are so opportunistic about such a temporary pool. In a few weeks, this will probably once again be a muddy flat. Before the reservoir was built, it was hardly that. The pelicans don't seem to be bothered--whether they're fishing on a flooded plain, or in a pond controlled by humans, food is food. Surely, many things have changed in the area since the birth of the lake, 100 years ago, while others have stayed the same.
This summer, I'll be taking a look at the changing lands around us, both wet and dry. I'll tap into local history, and try to get a sense of how the land has been changing, and what sort of changes it may face in the future. I hope that by taking a look around my own backyard, I can encourage the rest of you to look in yours. Discover the change happening in the world around you, both from the corners of the world, brought by modern technology, and from your immediate surroundings, that which you can experience firsthand. With a bit of digging, I've uncovered a wealth of life, history and information, right in my neighborhood. What's in yours?
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The last time my father visited me in Colorado, we went on a fishing binge, including at Standley Lake because I still lived off Wadsworth. Yes, it's man-made, but the birds, the solitude, and the views of the foothills are remarkable. You've got me thinking about getting out to catalogue the nature of my new home, but so much pales in comparison to Colorado.
There's a flock of about 10 that's been hanging out here in Longmont (MacIntosh Lake) for the last couple of months. Also a solitary Great Blue Heron. Do any of your pelicans have that odd crest on their bills? A number of mine do.
Abel, as you'll see, I've come to appreciate the balance between man-made structures and natural beauty. In some ways, I think everything we build is as natural (or artificial) as a bird's nest. I've been enjoying the balance at Standley Lake for years... I even graduated from the (brand new at the time) high school that was named for it.
RWW, the herons are my personal favorite avian, but I haven't seen any since I moved from Lakewood to Arvada. It's a shame, I know they're out there. I've yet to see any crests on the pelicans at Standley Lake, but I haven't gotten a close look at many besides this one. I'll try to keep an eye out, and post something if I see them.
Male White Pelicans develop that crest on their bill each spring. It literally drops off later in the summer. There's a big pelican colony on Gunnison Island, in the Great Salt Lake. Since there are no fish in the lake (too salty) the birds mostly fly to Utah Lake, 50 miles away, to fish each day for themselves and their young--but not all of them. For the past week there have been 5-16 of them fishing in a duck pond in a park a block from my house--in the middle of Salt Lake City.
Carel, thanks for the scoop on the pelican bills. There are a few pelicans around here that prefer the smaller ponds, too. I just hope your park rangers haven't been stocking the duck pond with Koi... that could get to be an expensive diet.