Yesterday, I wrote a blog post and shared photos of the American White Pelicans’ unique fishing tactics at the Robert S. Kerr Lock and Dam in Oklahoma. Today, I’m sharing another photo I took while sitting on the rocks near the water’s edge. It shows one of these birds landing in the river as it flies towards me. In a previous post, I wrote about the American White Pelican’s graceful landing style. They spread their wings wide to gently ease onto the water, landing feet-first and sliding elegantly to a stop. This can be seen in the photo I’m sharing today.
When landing, these birds perform a distinctive approach that resembles aircraft with their rigid wing positions. As they descend, they set their wings and spiral majestically, giving them a prehistoric look. This landing style is a sight to behold and is a testament to the grace and beauty of these large and majestic birds.
American White Pelicans can be seen in large groups on reservoirs and rivers across most of Oklahoma during their migration southward from early September to November, and northward from early February to May. These pelicans are easily recognizable by their distinctive, large pouched bill, which can hold up to three gallons of water. Although they can be found in Oklahoma throughout the year, their numbers tend to increase during winter, from October to January.
Image Information:
- Date: 12/11/23
- Time: 09:25 AM
- Camera: Canon EOS R5
- Lens: Canon RF 100-500mm F4.5-7.1 L IS USM
- ISO: 800
- Aperture: 8
- Shutter: 1/3200
- Exp. Comp.: -0.3
- Lens (mm): 500
- Program Mode: Manual
These American White Pelicans are beautiful and elegant! What a photo! The head-on view is great. It does give one the sense that the Pelican is a plane that just landed.