Rare New York Harbor Visitor, American White Pelican

[Donkees]

Manhattan Bird Alert

''This American White Pelican, Manhattan's first documented record of the species, continued flying and floating around Upper New York Bay today. We took this photo from the Staten Island Ferry''


Manhattan Bird Alert

[Donkees]

1. ''This (beak) bump grows during the mating season on males and females.''

Detail of John J. Audubon’s American White Pelican (Plate 311)

''On its beak was a noticeable bump. Of the eight pelican species worldwide, White Pelicans are the only species that have this characteristic (Audubon included it in his illustration).

This bump grows during the mating season on males and females. Once the eggs are laid, the bump falls off. Made of a “fibrous epidermal plate,” these shed “horns” can be found scattered next to their nests.

Unlike our local Brown Pelicans, the American White Pelican isn’t a sky diver. They scoop up fish by dipping their large beak and pouch into the water. They’ll often work as a team, herding fish into shallow areas.''

https://www.coastalexpeditions.com/blog/the-curious-beautiful-white-pelican/

[rampartc]

2. i am much more familiar with the brown pelicans

but a little flock of these whites , in formation low on the water. ..... they are bigger than the browns.

and thanks for that audubon . what a wonderful "close up."

[Donkees]

3. It's certainly a big surprise in New York harbor

Photo: Lynn M. Stone

[rampartc]

6. wow

i was going to guess "pelican and a half" compared to the brown, but that is goose to duck.

[twodogsbarking]

4. And this from childhood......

A funny old bird is the pelican.
His beak can hold more than his belican.
Food for a week
He can hold in his beak,
But I don’t know how in the helican.

[3Hotdogs]

8. From Bennet Cerf.

Boy, you must be pretty old. I bet you're older than I am to remember that one.

[twodogsbarking]

13. I try not to be one of the old people who has to tell everyone how old they are.

You aren't helping. Stay well.

[3Hotdogs]

15. I'm 81. I remember Bennet on "What's My Line."

[twodogsbarking]

16. I am 72. We golf with a woman who will soon be 89.

[AllaN01Bear]

17. how much can the pelican feed his bellycan.

[Scrivener7]

5. Which is cool, but which also points to the extreme climate change that's going on.

[Donkees]

7. Yes. Another Rare Bird Flyby - Juvenile Swainson's Hawk - NYC 2023

Photo: Maureen Seaberg

[2naSalit]

9. Those are our pelicans...

In the Rocky Mountains. They are quite common in Spring and Summer, early Fall. They show up for trout and salmon runs. Amazing to watch.

Pelicans on the Madison near Quake Lake.

[Donkees]

12. The Audubon site mentions that ''strays wander widely, including to northeast''

While it's common for them to winter along the Gulf Coast, this one needs to head towards the migration route near the Great Lakes. The Atlantic Flyway was extremely windy in early spring. This bird might have started out from Florida.

[BumRushDaShow]

10. I so want to caption that 2nd OP image

for those other birds nearby - "HEY!!!! We're swimmin' here!!!"



Thanks for posting and I can imagine those could stop by further south here in Philly at the John Heinz National Wildlife Refuge at Tinicum (and duke it out with the Canada geese ).

[bullwinkle428]

11. I see tons of them in the upper Midwest, along the Mississippi River,

but had no idea of the extent of their habitat across the U.S. Great to see that apparently spreading!

[Donkees]

14. I hope the wandering Pelican heads west and finds his family

Jim McCormac
The Columbus Dispatch