I'm always happy to to see the fresh water American White Pelicans (Pelecanus erythrorhynchos) arrive back in Wisconsin in the spring.
Unlike the plunge-diving style of the Brown Pelicans in Baja, these guys are team players. They will often form a semi-circle in the water and swim toward the shore together, beating their wings to herd fish into the shallows where they can easily scoop them up.
They are often fishing on the far side of the river from me and it seems like the only camera at hand is a mobile.
White Pelicans are significantly larger than Brown Pelicans. They are one of the heaviest flying birds in North America, with a massive wingspan that can reach up to 9 feet.
BrownPelicans (Pelecanus occidentalis) are smaller, with a wingspan of 6-7 feet.
In this photo Brown Pelicans are 'drafting' . By flying in a staggered line, they save energy by riding the air of the bird ahead of them. Like cyclists and race cars do!
Brown Pelicans are the only pelican species that perform high-speed plunge dives from the air to catch prey.
I read that they point their beak up like this to stretch their pouch to keep it flexible and also it helps them regulate body temperature.
Brown pelicans often nest in trees and bushes, but White Pelicans always nest on the ground
