American White Pelicans Tank Tops

American White Pelicans Early Morning Feeding by Debra Martz The Great Salt Plains Lake in northern Oklahoma is a wonderful place to catch many birds during Fall Migration. This variety of pelican arrives by the thousands at the end of September and in early October. They work together to herd fish, then go bottoms up like a dabbling duck for the catch. This group has definitely found the fish! ©Debra Martz, All Rights Reserved In My Gallery/Collection: Feathered Friends 3 20221003-DSC_4611.NEF

Pair of American Pelicans by Debra Martz The Great Salt Plains Lake in northern Oklahoma is a wonderful place to catch many birds during Fall Migration. These pelicans arrive by the thousands last of Sept and early October. ©Debra Martz, All Rights Reserved

American White Pelican Migration ©Debra Martz I discovered this migration path for these Pelicans in 2019 and return each year to watch in amazement as the numbers grow the first few weeks in October. Captured at the Great Salt Plains State Park in Northern Oklahoma in During Fall Migration.

American White Pelican Migration Continues ©Debra Martz I discovered this migration path for these Pelicans in 2019 and return each year to watch in amazement as the numbers grow the first few weeks in October. it is now October 11th and more arrivals everyday. Captured at the Great Salt Plains State Park in Northern Oklahoma in During Fall Migration. ©Debra Martz, All Rights Reserved In My Gallery/Collection: Feathered Friends 3 20221011-DSC_5596

Crowded Takeoff by Debra Martz I don't know how they can takeoff when so close and crowded together. The American White Pelican is a very large bird with a length over 5 ft and wingspans up to 9.5 ft. Also, you might notice they are kicking up muddy water. That is just how shallow this lake is becoming due to the ongoing drought. Captured at the Great Salt Plains state park in northern Oklahoma in October during fall migration. ©Debra Martz, All Rights Reserved In My Gallery/Collection: Feathered Friends 20221011-DSC_5659.NEF

Morning Flight During Fall Migration ©Debra Martz The early morning light provided a pink cast sky that reflected on water in the foreground. American White Pelicans departing for another area of the lake. What appears as small white dots flying across the lower level of the trees is mainly American Avocets as they migrate here in large numbers, too. October 12th at the Great Salt Plains state park in northern Oklahoma. ©Debra Martz, All Rights Reserved In My Gallery/Collections: Feathered Friends and Oklahoma 20221012-DSC_5845.NEF

Early Morning American White Pelicans in Black and White by Debra Martz I love fall migration in northern Oklahoma. The American White Pelicans, Cormorants, Seagulls of several varieties arrive in large numbers as a resting area for a few weeks as they fish the waters of the lake, river and at the spillway. Two pelicans here are taking a brief break from fishing the waters at the spillway. ©Debra Martz, All Rights Reserved In My Gallery/Collections: "Feathered Friends 2" 20211003-DSC_6944-Edit.tif

Dozens of American white pelicans gather near a fish processing shed in Petatán, Michoacán, Mexico

After two weeks of below freezing weather, I was surprised to see the American White Pelicans at the Great Salt Plains Lake. I had previously been made aware that there were some resident ones that did not migrate but I really thought they might have headed somewhere else. Most of the lake was still frozen, so they were all in the only area that had thawed. They were already showing signs of breeding season with the yellow plate which forms on the top of the bills of breeding adults. ©Debra Martz, All Rights Reserved In My Galleries/Collections "Feathered Friends2" "Digital Art" 20210223-DSC_4153-Edit.tif

Hundreds of pelicans gather on Lake Chapala in Petatán, Mexico

The Pelicans Found the Fish by Debra Martz I was taken by surprise when we pulled into the Sandy Beach campground and saw this large group of American White Pelicans fishing next to the dam. I thought all but the few resident pelicans had moved on south but on this January day there were many more than the normal count. This is just a small section of the line of pelicans that were fishing together. Unlike many birds that are territorial, these Pelicans work together herding fish into shallow waters where they dip their head under, scoop, then raise their heads and gulp down the catch. Captured at the lake in the Great Salt Plains State Park in northern Oklahoma. ©Debra Martz, All Rights Reserved In My Gallery/Collection: "F...

Migrating Pelicans at Rest by Debra Martz Large numbers of American White Pelicans continued to arrive at the Great Salt Plains State Park. It is a stopping point along their route south to fill on fish. After working together herding fish they moved to the the edge of the spillway to rest and some did some preening. The state park is in northern Oklahoma near Jet. ©Debra Martz, All Rights Reserved In My Gallery/Collection: "Feathered Friends2" 20201022-DSC_1352.NEF

Early morning and the American White Pelicans begin to gather along with a few Snowy Egrets. It was a cool autumn morning at the Great Salt Plains State Park and steam was rising off the warmer waters on the spillway. Where the water comes off the spillway of the lake it flows into the Salt Fork of the Arkansas River in northern Oklahoma. ©Debra Martz, All Rights Reserved In My Gallery/Collection: "Feathered Friends2" 20201004-DSC_0533.NEF

Pelican Togetherness by Debra Martz These two appeared to be paired together and still looking a bit dreamy eyed on this early morning. ©Debra Martz, All Rights Reserved In My Gallery/Collection: "Feathered Friends 2" 20211003-DSC_6958.NEF

Pelican Feeding Frenzy At the Lake by Debra MartzThe Pelicans Found the Fish by Debra Martz I was taken by surprise when we pulled into the Sandy Beach campground and saw this large group of American White Pelicans fishing next to the dam. I thought all but the few resident pelicans had moved on south but on this January day there were many more than the normal count. This is just another small section of the line of pelicans that were fishing together. Unlike many birds that are territorial, these Pelicans work together herding fish into shallow waters where they dip their head under, scoop, then raise their heads and gulp down the catch. Captured at the lake in the Great Salt Plains State Park in northern Oklahoma. ©Debra...

Pelican Togetherness by Debra Martz When North America's second largest bird, with an average wingspan of 9 feet, flies in a tight-knit group like this, I wonder how they do it with such grace! But they do and I enjoyed watching 1000s of them flying all over and around the Great Salt Plains State Park and the Salt Plains National Wildlife Refuge in northern Oklahoma during fall migration. ©Debra Martz, All Rights Reserved In My Gallery/Collection: "Feathered Friends 2" 20210929-DSC_6331

Morning Arrivals Joining the Flock by Debra Martz Mostly American White Pelicans and a few Double-crested Cormorants herding fish together. More Pelicans started dropping in on the feast along with one curious seagull flying in as well. Captured at the Great Salt Plains State Park in northern Oklahoma during Fall Migration in early October. ©Debra Martz, All Rights Reserved

American White Pelican Dual Landing by Debra Martz Landing gear down and landing closer to another group of Pelicans that were already moving toward the fish cleaning station at the boat ramp in Goose Island State Park located in south Texas. Scientific name: Pelecanus erythrorhynchos Digitally altered with an oil painting effect. ©Debra Martz 20190214-DSC_3264-ET Located in my Galleries/Collection Feather Friends

Are You Listening To Me by Debra Martz This image made me laugh. It appears to be yelling but in reality adults are usually silent though at times they will emit frequent low, brief grunts. Hope you find some fun or humor in this, too! White American Pelicans at the spillway of the Great Salt Plains Lake in Northern Oklahoma. ©Debra Martz, All Rights Reserved In My Gallery/Collection: "Feathered Friends 3" 20211107-DSC_8649

Pelicans In the Morning Light of the Sun and Moon ©Debra Martz It was October 12th and the numbers of migrating birds continued to climb. More American White Pelicans and now seeing more Double-crested Cormorants in the mix. It was 7:40am and sunrise was 7:37am plus the Waning Gibbous Moon at 92% was almost directly overhead lending to beautiful colors on the water. ©Debra Martz, All Rights Reserved In My Gallery/Collection: Feathered Friends 3 20221012-DSC_5729