The Great Day of Play: October 17, Part 3

After the juvenile was unable to find and retrieve the water bottle from part 2, she dredged up an old, beat-up bamboo fishing pole from the water.

Juvenile American white pelican (Pelecanus erythrorhynchos) plays with a bamboo fishing pole at White Rock Lake in Dallas, TX

Humans use this to catch fish?! Why don’t they just use their pouches? Stupid humans!

Juvenile American white pelican (Pelecanus erythrorhynchos) plays with a bamboo fishing pole at White Rock Lake in Dallas, TX

Weeeeeeeeeeeeeee!

Although I try to watch what all of the pelicans are doing, I pay attention to some situations more than others. A pelican swimming or walking toward shore is one such situation. Not only might the pelican suddenly decide to run or fly, which is great, but I might be able to see a band. If a pelican is banded with a large, colorful band, like the kind used for North Dakota pelicans from Chase Lake, I can photograph the alphanumeric code as the bird is lifting its leg out of the water to walk.

American white pelican (Pelecanus erythrorhynchos) runs to shore at White Rock Lake in Dallas, TX

Run, little pelican! Run like the wind!

American white pelican (Pelecanus erythrorhynchos) performs a gular stretch at White Rock Lake in Dallas, TX

Show off your internal pouch structures, little pelican! Show them off like . . . well, like a lesson in avian biology, I suppose.

There was some exciting bathing action going on nearby.

American white pelican (Pelecanus erythrorhynchos) bathing at White Rock Lake in Dallas, TX

THOSE HUMANS CAN SEE ME NAKED!

I love all the water splashing as the pelican really gets going.

American white pelican (Pelecanus erythrorhynchos) bathing at White Rock Lake in Dallas, TXAmerican white pelican (Pelecanus erythrorhynchos) bathing at White Rock Lake in Dallas, TXAmerican white pelican (Pelecanus erythrorhynchos) bathing at White Rock Lake in Dallas, TXAmerican white pelican (Pelecanus erythrorhynchos) bathing at White Rock Lake in Dallas, TX

The pelican who played with the mangled red plastic cup in part 1 found the plastic container that another pelican in part 1 had grappled with.

American white pelican (Pelecanus erythrorhynchos) sights trash to play with at White Rock Lake in Dallas, TX

But, soft! What crap through yonder whitecaps breaks?

American white pelican (Pelecanus erythrorhynchos) plays with trash at White Rock Lake in Dallas, TX

It is the trash, AND IT IS FOR ME TO PLAY WITH. FUCK JULIET.

Another pelican—a different one, I think, than the one with the plastic container—found a rock to play with.

American white pelican (Pelecanus erythrorhynchos) plays with a stone at White Rock Lake in Dallas, TX

Every birdie wants a rock to wind a piece of string around.

American white pelican (Pelecanus erythrorhynchos) plays with a stone at White Rock Lake in Dallas, TX

NOT YOURS, HUMAN.

American white pelican (Pelecanus erythrorhynchos) plays with a stone at White Rock Lake in Dallas, TX

Can I balance it in my pouch while I swim?

American white pelican (Pelecanus erythrorhynchos) plays with a stone at White Rock Lake in Dallas, TX

Ah, shit! Overcorrection! IT’S GOING DOWWWWWWN!

Some pelicans were tuckered out.

American white pelican (Pelecanus erythrorhynchos) dozes while loafing on a log at White Rock Lake in Dallas, TX

Zzzzzz . . . fishie . . . zzzzzzzz . . . big fishie . . .

Another pelican waddled to shore, but instead of stepping up onto land, she got back into the water and swam around in the very shallow water. She kept dipping her head in the water as though she were hunting for fish and brought up a stick. Although it was a large stick, she was able to toss and catch it a few times. She found a few more sticks to play with before she finally settled down to loafing on land.

American white pelican (Pelecanus erythrorhynchos) plays with a branch at White Rock Lake in Dallas, TX

On the shore, Philoctetes managed to get to her feet and limp further in toward the dock. Where pelicans choose to sleep has to do with where the already-sleeping pelicans are. Being very social birds, pelicans like to stand together and sleep together. On this day, most of the birds were moving closer to the dock to find a place to sleep.

American white pelican walks on loafing grounds to find a place to sleep at White Rock Lake in Dallas, TX

Although birds kept moving onto the shore to loaf, there was still some activity out in the water.

(Pelecanus erythrorhynchos)

Rouse!

American white pelican (Pelecanus erythrorhynchos) bathing at White Rock Lake in Dallas, TX

Splash!

American white pelican (Pelecanus erythrorhynchos) bathing at White Rock Lake in Dallas, TX

You show that water who’s boss, pelican!

One bird rushed toward the shore.

American white pelican (Pelecanus erythrorhynchos) runs to shore at White Rock Lake in Dallas, TX

OMG I LEFT THE IRON ON!

Another bird was content to do her loafing in the water.

American white pelican (Pelecanus erythrorhynchos) loafs in shallow water at White Rock Lake in Dallas, TX

She looks like a cartoon of a fat, prosperous man who has just finished eating an enormous dinner, pushed back from the table, and loosened his pants to accommodate his swollen gut while groaning in relief and satisfaction.

More pelicans were settling down on the shore. Although the pelicans would have liked the loafing grounds to themselves, they had to negotiate with the other birds who also used the area.

American white pelican (Pelecanus erythrorhynchos) stands with four ducks on a loafing site at White Rock Lake in Dallas, TX

Git along, little duckies.

I always think of the yellow-brown coloration on a sexually mature pelican’s lower neck as a “puke bib.”

American white pelican (Pelecanus erythrorhynchos) lies on the ground, preparing to sleep, at White Rock Lake in Dallas, TX

God, I feel sorry for the people who have to band baby pelicans and brave the birds puking on them. Can you imagine the smell?

Another pelican joined the pelican that was lying down. That’s how they decide where to sleep: they find a sleeping bird, walk over to it, and sit down next to it.

Two American white pelicans (Pelecanus erythrorhynchos) prepare to sleep at White Rock Lake in Dallas, TX

Philoctetes had been sitting on the ground, engaging in some play activity: she was picking of beakfuls of leaf litter and dropping the litter so that it sifted back down to the ground. Before I left for the day, she stood up and performed a nice bill throw.

American white pelican (Pelecanus erythrorhynchos) performs a bill throw at White Rock Lake in Dallas, TX

Bye, pelicansrulegullsdrool!

American white pelican (Pelecanus erythrorhynchos) performs a bill throw at White Rock Lake in Dallas, TX

Except I don’t know you other than the fact that you’re one of those scary stinky mammals hovering on the dock! But goodbye anyway!

The Great Day of Play: October 17, Part 1

Before I went out to the lake, I checked the backyard for any interesting insects or birds. I saw this paper wasp hanging out on an old section of fence.

Paper wasp (Polistes metricus) on wood in Dallas, TX

Back to migration madness!

Pelicans loaf in different areas of the bay depending upon weather, temperature, time of year, time of day, age (juvenile versus adult), safety considerations, and how many other pelicans are around. Sometimes the presence of geese or large numbers of cormorants can dissuade pelicans from loafing in certain places. On this day, a small group of pelicans had congregated on the loafing grounds by the dock, and more were swimming in that direction.

American white pelican (Pelecanus erythrorhynchos) jabs at another pelican on loafing grounds at White Rock Lake in Dallas, TX

They were also beginning to fight each other because, hey, they’re pelicans; that’s what they do.

Once the squabble ended, the shore pelicans went back to grooming and sleeping. That meant it was time for me to see what the other pelicans were doing.

Luckily, I only had to glance over at the Queen of the Log log to observe some action. A pelican had just jumped on the log next to a bird who had been loafing there by herself.

American white pelican (Pelecanus erythrorhynchos) lands on a loafing log occupied by another pelican at White Rock Lake in Dallas, TX

I am such a badass to make it up here on this log.

Two American white pelicans (Pelecanus erythrorhynchos) fight over their positions on a log at White Rock Lake in Dallas, TX

Oh no! Why are you not impressed with my badassery?

Two American white pelicans (Pelecanus erythrorhynchos) fight over their positions on a log at White Rock Lake in Dallas, TX

Take THAT, sucker! Teach you to hog the log all for yourself!

Two American white pelicans (Pelecanus erythrorhynchos) fight over their positions on a log at White Rock Lake in Dallas, TX

Sometimes pelicans have the funniest “startled” expressions.

Two American white pelicans (Pelecanus erythrorhynchos) fight over their positions on a log at White Rock Lake in Dallas, TX

Hang on, hang on, just let me get my footing back here, then you’ll be sorry . . .

Two American white pelicans (Pelecanus erythrorhynchos) fight over their positions on a log at White Rock Lake in Dallas, TX

Oh shit. The log’s not there anymore. That’s water.

Two American white pelicans (Pelecanus erythrorhynchos) fight over their positions on a log at White Rock Lake in Dallas, TX

I DIDN’T WANT TO LOAF ON THE LOG, ANYWAY!

A nearby juvenile who was preening while standing in the water paused to perform a gular flutter.

Juvenile American white pelican (Pelecanus erythrorhynchos) performs a gular flutter at White Rock Lake in Dallas, TX

An adult was sleeping in the shallow water by the loafing grounds.

American white pelican (Pelecanus erythrorhynchos) sleeping at White Rock Lake in Dallas, TX

A juvenile was swimming toward the shore.

American white pelican (Pelecanus erythrorhynchos) swimming at White Rock Lake in Dallas, TX

Then I saw the first instance of pelican play for the day. A pelican who was fishing way out by the far-away logs found a mutilated red plastic cup, picked it up, tossed it in the air, and caught it.

American white pelican (Pelecanus erythrorhynchos) playing with a red plastic cup at White Rock Lake in Dallas, TX

The pelican maneuvered the cup into her pouch and swam around for about a minute, occasionally clamping her upper beak down onto the cup to keep it inside her pouch.

American white pelican (Pelecanus erythrorhynchos) playing with a red plastic cup at White Rock Lake in Dallas, TXAmerican white pelican (Pelecanus erythrorhynchos) playing with a red plastic cup at White Rock Lake in Dallas, TX

When she dropped the cup and, despite her attempts, wasn’t able to retrieve it, I looked around again.

Two pelicans swim together at White Rock Lake in Dallas, TX

Best not be looking too hard at us, HUMAN.

5J1 was still at White Rock Lake and had chosen a log to loaf on that held a mature pelican. She half-heartedly snapped at the adult.

Two pelicans gape at each other while loafing at White Rock Lake in Dallas, TX

The adult gaped and snapped back.

Two pelicans gape at each other while loafing at White Rock Lake in Dallas, TX

Sometimes when pelicans snap at each other, they get into an odd rhythm. One pelican leans forward and gapes or snaps at a rival, and in the middle of the snap, the challenged bird gapes and snaps back. By the time the first pelican has finished snapping, the second bird is in the middle of her own snap, which the first pelican then responds to with yet another gape or snap. The birds never snap at each other at the same time. I wonder if that behavior is intentional, keeping the threat as just a warning. If the pelicans were both leaning forward and snapping at each other at the same time, conflict would probably escalate.

Two pelicans gape at each other while loafing at White Rock Lake in Dallas, TX

Two pelicans gape at each other while loafing at White Rock Lake in Dallas, TX

They called it a draw.

Far out in the water again, another bird had found an important piece of trash: a water bottle! Unfortunately, she didn’t do much with it.

American white pelican (Pelecanus erythrorhynchos) plays with a water bottle at White Rock Lake in Dallas, TX
American white pelican (Pelecanus erythrorhynchos) plays with a water bottle at White Rock Lake in Dallas, TX

American white pelican (Pelecanus erythrorhynchos) plays with a water bottle at White Rock Lake in Dallas, TX

The Queen of the Log pelican fell asleep.

American white pelican (Pelecanus erythrorhynchos) sleeping at White Rock Lake in Dallas, TX

Something spooked the pelicans—I don’t remember what. The good news was that the birds weren’t totally freaked out. No one was going into super-alert mode, where the birds straighten up and hold their wings slightly out from their sides so they are ready to take off instantly. The birds were suspicious but not terrified. They got into alert mode, where they all straighten up and look in the same direction, and when the danger was not resolved to their satisfaction, they began to cautiously slink away. It’s the same behavior that I’ve seen from pelicans when I walk where they can see me at times when they (presumably) haven’t seen people for a while, such as on a very cold day. If no further interruptions occur, most of the pelicans will often return to where they were originally hanging out.

Loafing American white pelicans (Pelecanus erythrorhynchos) alert and head toward water at White Rock Lake in Dallas, TX

Although I would vastly prefer the pelicans to not be frightened, the potential for something dramatic or interesting to happen goes way up when they are moving around the area. Such as the next bird, who found an interesting piece of trash but had a hell of a time trying to grip it.

American white pelican (Pelecanus erythrorhynchos) plays with a plastic container at White Rock Lake in Dallas, TX

Luckily, a few minutes later the same bird was able to find an object that was easier to zoom around with.

American white pelican plays with a feather at White Rock Lake in Dallas, TX

American white pelican plays with a feather at White Rock Lake in Dallas, TX

She briefly opened her beak to clamp down harder on the feather.

Elsewhere, another pelican was starting to fall asleep. I love it when pelicans let their long flight feathers droop down, like they are so tired that they’ve forgotten to hold the feathers tucked up under their wings.

American white pelican (Pelecanus erythrorhynchos) dozing at White Rock Lake in Dallas, TX

A coot swam up to the dock and peeped at me. It did not try to pull me down under the water and drown me.

American coot (Fulica americana) in the water at White Rock Lake in Dallas, TX

Another pelican found two pecans stuck together and tossed them in the air a few times, retrieving them from the water when she was unable to catch them in her beak. This pelican will make another appearance in part 2, when she discovers that water bottles can make great toys.

American white pelican (Pelecanus erythrorhynchos) playing with pecans at White Rock Lake in Dallas, TX

I really like this pic.

I will end part 1 with a bathing pelican. Part 2 should be up much sooner than I’ve promised in the past!

American white pelican (Pelecanus erythrorhynchos) bathing in water at White Rock Lake in Dallas, TX

YOU WISH YOU WERE SUCH A GOOD BATHER AS BIRD, HUMAN!

A Fish Fight and a Much More Vicious Fight: October 15

When I first went out to watch the pelicans, they were pretty chill. Several pelicans were sitting and standing on the Shore Log. Some were grooming; some were trying to sleep. None of them looked like they wanted to start a fight or go exploring.

(Pelecanus erythrorhynchos)

Four American white pelicans (Pelecanus erythrorhynchos) loaf on a log at White Rock Lake in Dallas, TX

Can someone order out for sushi?

I went to the dock to see if there was any action there.

Two American white pelicans (Pelecanus erythrorhynchos) loaf on a log at White Rock Lake in Dallas, TX

What is this “action” of which you speak?

A juvenile was out in the water playing with a feather. She bounced it in her pouch before dropping it and picking it up a few times.

An American white pelican (Pelecanus erythrorhynchos) plays with a feather at White Rock Lake in Dallas, TX

No pelicans were loitering around the Queen of the Log log, and the Queen who was there was busy grooming.

An American white pelican (Pelecanus erythrorhynchos) grooms at White Rock Lake in Dallas, TX

I watched a pelican swimming by, hoping that she might try to jump on a log or do something interesting. She didn’t.

An American white pelican (Pelecanus erythrorhynchos) swims at White Rock Lake in Dallas, TX

At least the pigeon that landed on the dock was pretty.

A pigeon perches on a dock at White Rock Lake in Dallas, TX

I noticed a commotion out past the Queen of the Log log. Four pelicans had suddenly drawn together. At first I thought they were playing—a few of them seemed to duck down as though they were trying to pick something up out of the water—but they didn’t seem to be moving in such a way that I associate with object play. Then I saw a flash of green. A fish!

Four American white pelicans (Pelecanus erythrorhynchos) hunting for fish at White Rock Lake in Dallas, TX

FISHIE IS MINE!

Four American while pelicans (Pelecanus erythrorhynchos) hunt for fish at White Rock Lake in Dallas, TX

Uhhh, pelican, you’re supposed to swallow the fish head first.

I wasn’t sure whether the pelican who initially had the fish managed to retain it or if another pelican snatched it away.

Four American while pelicans (Pelecanus erythrorhynchos) hunt for fish at White Rock Lake in Dallas, TX

Four American while pelicans (Pelecanus erythrorhynchos) hunt for fish at White Rock Lake in Dallas, TX

The chase is finished . . . or has it just begun?

I did not get the next pic in focus, but I wanted to post it to show the outline of the fish inside the pelican’s pouch.

American white pelican (Pelecanus erythrorhynchos) with a fish in her pouch at White Rock Lake in Dallas, TX

Slosh, slosh, slosh your fish, gently in your pouch . . .

Just as I had seen when a pelican ate a dead fish, the bird swam off on her own, away from where the other groups of pelicans were congregating, and tilted her head back as she drifted away.

American white pelican swims with a fish in its pouch at White Rock Lake in Dallas, TX

She looks like she has a horrible tumor growing in her pouch.

American white pelican swims with a fish in its pouch at White Rock Lake in Dallas, TX

American white pelican swims with a fish in its pouch at White Rock Lake in Dallas, TX

That’s not an angle you often see on a pelican!

Closer to the dock, a group of coots were milling about. One cute little coot was hanging around with her wing held out jauntily.

American coot (Fulica americana) holding another coot underwater at White Rock Lake in Dallas, TX

Don’t mind me!

Except that cute little coot with the jaunty wing was a red-hot killing machine. She was in that posture for a purpose: TO DROWN ANOTHER COOT.

American coot (Fulica americana) holding another coot underwater at White Rock Lake in Dallas, TX

Goddammit, why are we coots so fucking buoyant?

I starting noticing aggressive behavior among coots starting a few weeks before this incident. Some coots would swim with their necks held out stiffly and as close to the water as possible, as though they were pissed-off geese, and as they swam they would hold their hindquarters and wings slightly elevated so one could easily see the white feathers on their rumps. Occasionally the aggressive coots would charge toward another coot, who would quickly swim away, and a few times I briefly saw an aggressive coot fighting an opponent by kicking at them. Attempted drowning was new for me.

American coot (Fulica americana) tries to drown another coot at White Rock Lake in Dallas, TX

Doo da doo . . .

American coot (Fulica americana) tries to drown another coot at White Rock Lake in Dallas, TX

Why does my maniacal laugh sound so much like a cute little chirp?

American coot (Fulica americana) tries to drown another coot at White Rock Lake in Dallas, TX

Hey guys, what are you doing? OH SHIT OH SHIT OH SHIT PLEASE DON’T LOOK AT ME PLEASE DON’T FOLLOW ME.

An American coot (Fulica americana) tries to drown another coot at White Rock Lake in Dallas, TX

Jesus, coots are hardcore!

An American coot (Fulica americana) tries to drown another coot at White Rock Lake in Dallas, TX

Swim for it, little one!

An American coot (Fulica americana) tries to drown another coot at White Rock Lake in Dallas, TX

Next, on “Coots Who Kill,” hear serial killer Anna the Coot describe how her last victim almost escaped from her evil clutches.

The aggressive coot easily subdued the fleeing coot and held her underwater. Again the coot escaped and was recaptured and forced back underwater. Finally the victimized coot was able to get free and stay free.

The pelicans were still very chill.

American white pelican (Pelecanus erythrorhynchos) stands on a log at White Rock Lake in Dallas, TX

Back at the Shore Log, the birds were still grooming.

Two American white pelicans (Pelecanus erythrorhynchos) preen while standing on a log at White Rock Lake in Dallas, TX

Dread Pirate Roberts and another pelican preen together. Perhaps the pelican on the left closed her eye to make Pirate feel more welcome.

Then I saw a familiar pelican: the bird with the hurt foot from October 11. I last saw her on November 8th, and although she is still limping quite a bit, she seems to be getting around much better than she did at this time. I can’t believe both she and Copper Woman have been here for a month.

I have decided to name the bird with the hurt foot Philoctetes.

American white pelican grooming on a log at White Rock Lake in Dallas, TX

Before I left, I went out on the dock one last time. A juvenile jumped up on an oddly shaped log and was having a great deal of difficulty keeping her balance.

American white pelican (Pelecanus erythrorhynchos) flaps her wings as she tries to keep her balance at White Rock Lake in Dallas, TX

I can do it!

American white pelican (Pelecanus erythrorhynchos) sinks into water after losing her balance at White Rock Lake in Dallas, TX

No, I can’t!

American white pelican (Pelecanus erythrorhynchos) sinks into water after losing her balance at White Rock Lake in Dallas, TX

Fuck this log!

A dozing pelican briefly opened her eyes, then closed them again. Much more action would occur in the next few days, and perhaps she knew she would need her energy.

American white pelican standing at White Rock Lake in Dallas, TX

 

Quick Update on Pelicans

This past week was absolutely fantastic for pelican watching. Lots of interactions, some very good play activity, fights, baths, and flights. On Saturday I was out on the dock at Sunset Bay for about three hours. Most of that time K was with me, and together we saw about sixty pelicans drop out of the sky and land in the water in front of us throughout the afternoon.

I have a ton of pics to go through, and I want to make some non-pelican posts first, but hopefully I won’t take too long to get to the good pelican stuff.

Juvenile pelican (american white pelican; Pelecanus erythrorhynchos) tosses a plastic bottle from her gular pouch in play

Yes, pelicansrulegullsdrool, hurry up and get to me!

Bird Versus Fish: Pelicans on February 3, 2014

When Q and I went to visit the pelicans on Sunday, February 2, we didn’t stay long because it was very cold. There was a dead fish bobbing in the water about halfway between the shore and one of the long logs that the pelicans liked to perch on. I call that log the Log of Status. Q was surprised to see the carcass still relatively unmolested: he thought that another bird would have happened upon it and eaten it. “Mother Nature is falling down on her job!” he said. Coots and gulls would occasionally swim over and peck at the fish, but they didn’t seem particularly interested in it.

On Monday the fish was still there. The weather was still very cold, and the light was dim. A few pelicans landed in the bay and swam around for a little while, but the majority of the pelicans were huddled together on logs.

Flying pelican (american white pelican; Pelecanus erythrorhynchos) about to land at White Rock Lake in Dallas, TX

Pelican (american white pelican; Pelecanus erythrorhynchos) landing in the water at White Rock Lake in Dallas, TX

Pelican (american white pelican; Pelecanus erythrorhynchos) putting her foot down after scratching herself at White Rock Lake in Dallas, TX

Flying pelican (american white pelican; Pelecanus erythrorhynchos) about to land at White Rock Lake in Dallas, TX

Just as Q and I had seen the day before, a gull and a coot were taking turns half-heartedly pecking at the dead fish.

Suddenly a pelican was flying past the Log of Status and toward the shore. She threw one wing in the air vertically and one wing out horizontally, bracing herself as she skidded to a stop in the very shallow water. Pelicans might land close to shore, but only when there are other pelicans there. This pelican was landing well past the place where the other pelicans were congregating.

Pelican (american white pelican; Pelecanus erythrorhynchos) landing at White Rock Lake in Dallas, TX

Pelican (american white pelican; Pelecanus erythrorhynchos) landing at White Rock Lake in Dallas, TX

Pelican (american white pelican; Pelecanus erythrorhynchos) recovers from landing at White Rock Lake in Dallas, TX

Pelican (american white pelican; Pelecanus erythrorhynchos) recovers from landing at White Rock Lake in Dallas, TX

Once she recovered from her landing, she began to swim. This was not a leisurely swim; she was going so fast that she was pushing up a wave of water ahead of her body. As I watched, she seemed to keep getting larger and larger. She was swimming straight toward me, toward the shore!

Pelican (american white pelican; Pelecanus erythrorhynchos) swimming toward a fish at White Rock Lake in Dallas, TX

Pelican (american white pelican; Pelecanus erythrorhynchos) swimming toward a fish at White Rock Lake in Dallas, TX

It wasn’t until she leaned down and opened her bill that I realized that she was going for the fish.

Pelican (american white pelican; Pelecanus erythrorhynchos) trying to scoop up a fish at White Rock Lake in Dallas, TX

She wasn’t exactly trying to scoop up the fish but was instead trying to position herself so that the moving water would float the fish into her pouch. I had to remind myself to keep taking pics and to not just watch. I was very excited. I’d never been so close to a pelican eating a fish.

Pelican (american white pelican; Pelecanus erythrorhynchos) trying to scoop up a fish at White Rock Lake in Dallas, TX

Pelican (american white pelican; Pelecanus erythrorhynchos) trying to scoop up a fish at White Rock Lake in Dallas, TX

Pelican (american white pelican; Pelecanus erythrorhynchos) trying to scoop up a fish at White Rock Lake in Dallas, TX

Pelican (american white pelican; Pelecanus erythrorhynchos) trying to scoop up a fish at White Rock Lake in Dallas, TX

Pelican (american white pelican; Pelecanus erythrorhynchos) trying to reposition a fish in her gular pouch at White Rock Lake in Dallas, TX

Pelican (american white pelican; Pelecanus erythrorhynchos) with half of a fish hanging out of her gular pouch at White Rock Lake in Dallas, TX

Suddenly another pelican was steaming toward the first pelican, probably hoping for an opportunity to steal away the fish. The first pelican quickly stuffed all of the fish into her pouch. Only about forty-five seconds had elapsed since I noticed the first bird flying toward the fish.

Pelican (american white pelican; Pelecanus erythrorhynchos) with a fish in her gular pouch swimming past another pelican at White Rock Lake in Dallas, TX

Like two ships passing in the night. Except it’s day. And they aren’t ships. And one has a fish and the other doesn’t.

Pelican (american white pelican; Pelecanus erythrorhynchos) raising her head to eat a fish in her gular pouch as another pelican swims next to her at White Rock Lake in Dallas, TX

Down the hatch! Eventually.

The first pelican drifted far away, way past the pelicans on the Log of Status. She kept her head tilted in the same position as she floated. The second pelican followed her briefly before getting bored and swimming back to jump onto a log close to the shore. I call that log the Shore Log. After she got on the Shore Log, she worked her way to one side and had a good scratching session.

Pelican (american white pelican; Pelecanus erythrorhynchos) standing on a log at White Rock Lake in Dallas, TX

Pelican (american white pelican; Pelecanus erythrorhynchos) scratching while on a log at White Rock Lake in Dallas, TX

Another bird jumped onto the log.

Pelican (american white pelican; Pelecanus erythrorhynchos) standing on a log with her wings spread at White Rock Lake in Dallas, TX

She squabbled a bit with the existing pelican, but they both calmed down before any major beaking got going.

Two pelicans (american white pelicans; Pelecanus erythrorhynchos) standing together on a log at White Rock Lake in Dallas, TX

Well, I guess we’ll just have to agree to disagree, but I really believe that Jean-Luc Picard was the best captain of the Enterprise.

Another pelican joined the two birds on the log, although she did so peacefully.

A pelican (american white pelican; Pelecanus erythrorhynchos) standing on a log with her wings outstretched at White Rock Lake in Dallas, TX

I always liked Captain Janeway.

Close to the Log of Status is a large stump where pelicans like to loaf. These two had fought briefly before settling down. Fighting is very common among the pelicans here, although the birds typically settle down after a few lunges.

Two pelicans (american white pelicans; Pelecanus erythrorhynchos) on a stump at White Rock Lake in Dallas, TX

Then a very special pelican flew into the bay.

Tagged pelican (american white pelican; Pelecanus erythrorhynchos) UT12S21 (S21) standing in water at White Rock Lake in Dallas, TX

I’M HERE! LET’S GET THIS PARTY STARTED!

I first saw and reported UT12S21 (S21) to the Bird Banding Laboratory on December 11, 2013. She stayed at White Rock Lake until the very end of the season, leaving in the first week of April. She was a first-year pelican originally from the Great Salt Lake, which is pretty incredible—research indicates that North American white pelicans are divided by the Rocky Mountains into two main populations, and migrating pelicans don’t typically cross the mountains. Of course, doing uncommon and courageous things was just part of S21’s style. She had a distinct personality, and I always enjoyed watching her interactions with other pelicans. I was a little disappointed when she joined the others on the Shore Log with no drama.

Then excitement occurred when the next pelican took her turn.

A pelican (american white pelican; Pelecanus erythrorhynchos) standing on a log, her wings outstretched, between two more pelicans at White Rock Lake in Dallas, TX

Hi, y’all! What’s going on? Wanna play Scrabble?

A pelican (american white pelican; Pelecanus erythrorhynchos) opens her beak as a threat toward another pelican while standing on a log at at White Rock Lake in Dallas, TX

FUCK YOU! ALL I WANTED WAS TO PLAY SOME SCRABBLE! HOW DARE YOU SUGGEST HUNGRY HUNGRY HIPPOS!

The new pelican’s aggression was a bluff; she settled in quite nicely with the others.

Two pelicans (american white pelicans; Pelecanus erythrorhynchos) standing together on a log at White Rock Lake in Dallas, TX

I can sell you some beautiful land in Florida. Beautiful rolling land. Called Black Creek. You’ve got to act fast, though . . .

A few birds were still coming in, but the birds who were established on the logs were preening or sleeping. My toes were numb and my fingers were cold. I went home to warm up.

A pelican (american white pelican; Pelecanus erythrorhynchos) landing on water at White Rock Lake in Dallas, TX

Pelican Ichiban: First-of-Season American White Pelican at White Rock Lake on September 13

According to J R Compton, a local photographer and birder who has been watching the pelicans at White Rock Lake for several years, the earliest arrival date for a pelican is September 15. That would have been on a Monday. K, a friend whom I met while we were both watching the pelicans this past fall and winter, hoped that a pelican might come early, on the weekend, so she could have a chance to see it.

K, my significant other Q, and I were standing on the dock at Sunset Bay on Saturday afternoon, watching a snowy egret hunt. I peered out at a far-off log and said, “Wait a minute, there’s a pelican there.”

It was Pelican Ichiban, the first American White Pelican of the season at White Rock Lake.

I remembered from last fall that the first arriving pelicans tended to hang out almost exclusively on the far-away logs until more birds came. Then they shifted closer to the shore and onto the nearer logs. Thus, I wasn’t expecting much more than what we were seeing. Even with the bird so far away, we were all happy that there was finally a pelican at the lake again after six months and that we all got to see it together.

A cormorant that was sitting on the same far-away log suddenly darted toward Pelican Ichiban. The cormorant’s beak was open, and her wings were spread. Instead of Pelican Ichiban snapping at the cormorant, or just ignoring her, she freaked the fuck out. She flew up off the log and into the water.

Then she started swimming. We thought she was just going to hop up on a different far-out log, but she didn’t. She swam further in. And further. She made a nice pass swimming parallel to the dock, turned around, and swam back out to another far-off log that she hopped upon.

K saw her the next morning, the 14th, and K, Q, and I were all back out again in the afternoon. Shortly before Q and I arrived, K had watched Pelican Ichiban leave the far-off log where she had been loafing, bathe, and hop up onto a closer log. We watched her groom. And groom. And groom some more.

K said, “I forgot how long they can groom.”

I said, “Now I remember why we used to be out here for hours watching them. We had to wait that long for something to happen!”

Occasionally between grooming spells Pelican Ichiban would briefly flap her wings or scratch her neck. Once she tried scratching her gular pouch, but she seemed to lose interest and ended the session with an abbreviated gular flutter.

A snowy hopped on Pelican Ichiban’s log, but Pelican Ichiban ignored her. Later the snowy left and a great egret got on. Pelican Ichiban was still unperturbed. In fact, she was starting to get sleepy: her eyelids were drooping and occasionally closing.

The next afternoon she wasn’t there. I figured she was probably out fishing at another part of the lake. I rode my bike around the lake, but I didn’t see her. Pelican Ichiban must have paused to rest and refuel at the lake before continuing on her migration route. I was disappointed she didn’t stay but happy that I got to see her. Hopefully more pelicans will be arriving soon.

A pelican (american white pelican; Pelecanus erythrorhynchos) swimming at White Rock Lake in Dallas, TX

Pelican Ichiban begins her pass in front of us.

A pelican (american white pelican; Pelecanus erythrorhynchos) swimming at White Rock Lake in Dallas, TX

The cap of dark feathers on the back of Pelican Ichiban’s head is part of the bird’s “chick-feeding” plumage.

A pelican (american white pelican; Pelecanus erythrorhynchos) swimming at White Rock Lake in Dallas, TX

Pelican Ichiban turns to swim back out to a far-away log for loafing.

A pelican (american white pelican; Pelecanus erythrorhynchos) beating her wings at White Rock Lake in Dallas, TX

Pelican Ichiban briefly beats her wings after a grooming session. This was taken on September 14.

A pelican (american white pelican; Pelecanus erythrorhynchos) scratching at White Rock Lake in Dallas, TX

Itchy!

A pelican (american white pelican; Pelecanus erythrorhynchos) displaying her wings at White Rock Lake in Dallas, TX

She paused for a little while with her wings held out. K and I hoped that she might do something interesting, but she just went back to grooming.

A pelican (american white pelican; Pelecanus erythrorhynchos) and a snowy egret (Egretta thula) stand on a log at White Rock Lake in Dallas, TX

Gosh, snowy, we don’t need to save that many seats for your friends, do we?

A pelican (american white pelican; Pelecanus erythrorhynchos) scratching her gular pouch at White Rock Lake in Dallas, TX

“if I had teeth I could floss. I would do it. I would be the very best.” Quotation by Twitter user birdsrightsactivist.

A sleepy pelican (american white pelican; Pelecanus erythrorhynchos) standing on a log at White Rock Lake in Dallas, TX

Sleepy lady.

The Pelican Can!

*to the tune of “The Candy Man” from Willy Wonka and the Chocolate Factory*

Who can take a sunfish
Sunning near her mouth
Cover it with beaky and then slide it in her pouch
The pelican!
The pelican can!
The pelican can ’cause she mixes it with blood and makes the fish taste good
Who can take a rainbow trout
Swimming merrily
Dip it in the lake and make a goody for her beak
The pelican!
The pelican can!
The pelican can ’cause she mixes it with blood and makes the fish taste good
The pelican she makes
Everything she takes
Satisfying and delicious
Talk about your fledgling wishes
You can eat up all the fishes!
Who can take two marlins
Dip ’em in a stream
Separate the salt out and collect the tasty meat
The pelican!
The pelican can!
The pelican can ’cause she mixes it with blood and makes the fish taste good
And the fish tastes good . . . because the pelican thinks it should

A juvenile pelican (american white pelican; Pelecanus erythrorhynchos) stretches its gular pouch at White Rock Lake in Dallas, TX