Pelicans Over River Ice

Mississippi River White Pelicans

“Hey Peter, did we make a wrong turn or something? What’s the deal with all of this river ice?”
“Hmm, not sure Paul, but sure wish we’d stayed down south a little longer. Whose bright idea was this?”
“Not sure Peter, I just followed you…”

You can tell the breeding season is approaching as the nuptial tubercles on these pelicans are just beginning to form on the tops of their beaks, a reminder that spring migration is well underway—even if winter still has a firm grip on the river.

Worth Knowing

There was a pronounced decline in American White Pelican numbers in the mid-20th century due to widespread pesticide use and wetland loss, but populations rebounded following environmental protections and are now stable or slowly increasing. (Source: Kiddle)

Many images captured in the field are represented in the Fine Art Print Store as part of a curated wildlife and nature collection.