A Day of Sunshine: February 6, 2015

Posted on March 10, 2015 by pelicansrulegullsdrool

It’s time for something old and something (a little closer to) new.

Pelicans, like other birds, begin developing breeding plumage long before they breed. January/February is when I think the pelicans look their best. Their breeding horns are noticeable, but they aren’t huge. Their dark eyes are lightening as the color slowly changes to blue. The plumes on their heads are getting just long enough to have a nice “Crazy Harry” appearance, especially when the wind is blowing.

Image of Crazy Harry from muppet.wikia.com

I suspect that more than a few pelicans have Crazy Harry tendencies beyond the hair.
(Image from muppet.wikia.com)

I think that the pelicans look their ugliest in March, although they are probably super sexy to each other. Their horns are huge. Their breeding plumes have grown so long that they look like unkempt hair that desperately needs a trim (and in the fall, I’m always shocked by their lack of breeding plumes; they look as though their heads have been shaved). Their eyes are light blue, which looks nice with the orange-red of their feet and portions of their pouches, but they also develop ugly black streaks on their bills, gular pouches, and around the contours of their faces.

Here are some pics from mid- and late-March 2014 that show off pelican breeding plumage.

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

Here you can really see the black streaks around the pelican’s facial features and on her gular pouch and beak.

American white pelican (Pelecanus erythrorhynchos) in breeding plumage flying at White Rock Lake in Dallas, TX

HOLY SHIT IT’S A FLYING CERATOSAURUS!

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

This bird stayed too long on Dune and got addicted to the spice.

Everyone thinks that the album title “Ol’ Blue Eyes Is Back” refers to Sinatra himself. Everyone is wrong. The title refers to sexy pelicans!

It’s a shame that the pelicans don’t breed here; their breeding horns are so unique that it would be easy to identify individual birds.

SHE’S COMING RIGHT FOR US, CAPTAIN!

February had been a terrific month for pelican watching in 2014. K and I sometimes stayed out for hours watching them. Additional groups of pelicans started passing through, and sometimes in the evenings there were so many pelicans loafing by the dock that the birds were spread out from the loafing grounds to the Queen of the Log log.

Not this February.

I don’t think I saw any noticeably new pelicans. Maybe once or twice I thought there were slightly more pelicans than usual, but I mostly saw a small, stable crew. Some good news is that pelicans that have been here since the beginning of the season, such as Copper Woman, are still here. So is S21; I smile every time I see her green wing tags. But February was mostly gray and cold, and the pelicans spent most of their loafing time huddled up on or near the marshy spit.

So far, March doesn’t seem any good, either. Even on milder days the pelicans are choosing to loaf on the far-away logs instead of near the shore or near the dock. Last year, as more pelicans flew north and fewer birds were left at the lake, the remaining birds moved to the far-away logs, but that didn’t happen until late March. I really hope that the pelicans are loafing on the far-away logs because the water level is too high by the dock. Q and I will be going on a trip to Florida soon, and hopefully I can still observe close-up pelican action when we return.

In early February there were some sunny days when the pelicans were still feeling frisky, so I will post some pics from that time. The action started on the Shore Log. When I first got there, a pelican was preparing to fly.

I tracked her as she sailed past the Shore Log and flew out to the deeper parts of the lake to meet up with the pelicans that were out fishing.

It took me until this winter to realize that both double-crested and neotropic cormorants wintered at White Rock Lake. In January the neotropic cormorants had been very active, and I had enjoyed watching them.

American white pelican (Pelecanus erythrorhynchos) and neotropic cormorant (Phalacrocorax brasilianus) gape at each other on a log at White Rock Lake in Dallas, TX

Hey (hey), you (you), get off of my log!

One might think that because the pelicans are so large, they always win a challenge with a cormorant. That’s not true. Sometimes the pelican is scared off. Sometimes the cormorant is scared off. Often the confrontation ends in a draw. This one ended in a draw.

A few more pelicans jumped up onto the Shore Log.

Unfortunately, they didn’t do much but preen, so I went to the dock to see if anything were happening there. All I saw was a bunch of coots feeding.

American coot (Fulica americana) upends to look for food at White Rock Lake in Dallas, TX

HUMAN, DO YOU THINK I HAVE A SEXY BUTT?

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

What do you mean, you’re not into birds like that? That one goose sure thinks you are!

Greylag goose (Anser anser) stands on the shore of White Rock Lake in Dallas, TX

How dare you, sir coot! I am a gentleman! I think no such thing!

Back at the shore, pelicans were flying into the bay and looking for places to loaf. A pelican hopped up onto the log and scared the bejesus out of the pelican next to her.

American white pelican (Pelecanus erythrorhynchos) jumps onto a log and tries to attack another pelican at White Rock Lake in Dallas, TX

Mom! Mom! Mom! Guess what! Guess what!

Luckily for the first pelican, the new bird forgot about fighting and just flapped her wings.

Another pelican got ready to jump up. . . .

. . . She was immediately attacked by the pelican that was already on the log.

Even the cormorant started to get pissed off.

Two American white pelicans (Pelecanus erythrorhynchos) fight while a neotropic cormorant (Phalacrocorax brasilianus) gapes at White Rock Lake in Dallas, TX

Goddammit, don’t you pelicans ever just CHILL OUT?!

The pelican that had jumped onto the log was losing the fight. She was forced off the log and tried to step forward back onto it.

She managed to get back onto the log, but the attack from the other pelican was so fierce that the beleaguered pelican jumped forward into the water and swam to the marshy spit to loaf there.

I glanced out at the water and caught Lady Katherine finishing a full-flap and sinking back into the water.

Mute swan (Cygnus olor) lowers herself down onto the water after flapping her wings at White Rock Lake in Dallas, TX

It is I, Birdie Lady of the Lake, who shall guard Excalibur until the worthy recipient comes forth.

The log pelicans were settling down.

American white pelican flaps her wings while standing on a log at White Rock Lake in Dallas, TX

Excuse me, miss, but you are such a beautiful pelican. May I hold this door open for you?

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

Oh yes, thank you so much, kind pelican! The footing over the threshold is so treacherous!

A pelican engaged in a very brief bit of allopreening with another pelican. Surprisingly, the other pelican tolerated it. Maybe the preening incident was so brief that the groomed bird didn’t feel the need to attack.

One of the log pelicans squatted down as though she were about to take off. I thought she was going to fly back out to fish, but instead she flew just past the log.

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

Free fallin’, now I’m, free fallin’, now I’m.

American white pelican (Pelecanus erythrorhynchos) lands on water after a short flight at White Rock Lake in Dallas, TX

I always enjoy seeing the water that’s kicked up as the pelicans land. Their feet must be unbelievably tough.

Back on the Shore Log, a pelican and a cormorant were squabbling.

American white pelicans (Pelecanus erythrorhynchos) squabble with a double-crested cormorant (Phalacrocorax auritus) at White Rock Lake in Dallas, TX

Anh! Look at this! The cormorant thinks it can take me!

Shit, it’s still gaping at me. What should I do now, Anh?

What do you mean, I’m not intimidating enough and I should let you have at the cormorant? I can be intimidating!

GRRRRRR I’m a big scary pelican!

The match ended in a draw.

I went back to the dock, where I saw a pelican standing and preening on the Queen of the Log log. Another pelican swam up.

I love watching log fights, but they are hard for me to photograph. I have to guess how much space to allow the birds and where to focus. How far up might their wings go? How far out might their wings go? Will their bodies be fairly compact as they fight, or will one or both of them be flailing around?

Luckily, I caught most of the action.

American white pelican (Pelecanus erythrorhynchos) attempts to knock another pelican off of a loafing log at White Rock Lake in Dallas, TX

Reminiscent of the pelican that drop-kicked another pelican to knock her off the log, this bird is using her beak to try to push over the log pelican.

The pelican that had lost her place on the log decided to challenge the usurper.

Two American white pelicans (Pelecanus erythrorhynchos) gape at each other in anticipation of fighting at White Rock Lake in Dallas, TX

YOU ASSHOLE, GIVE ME BACK MY LOG!

She quickly dispatched the usurper and situated herself back on the log, Queen again.

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

Who’s the badass? That’s right. You can bow now.

The defeated pelican performed a rouse, swam out to another log, and hopped on.

Well, fine, I’ll just be Queen of this log!

A juvenile flew in, ran to the shore, but before getting onto the land, stopped to preen.

Another pelican flew in and went right for the log behind the juvenile. The log is a new addition to the loafing grounds by the dock. The pelicans love it. I’m not sure whether it’s still there or if it floated somewhere else with all the rain we got in late February.

Simon says, “Put your wings up!”

American white pelican (Pelecanus erythrorhynchos) sits down with her wings up at White Rock Lake in Dallas, TX

Did I win? Did I win?

That was it for the pelicans that day, but two other birds decided to be photogenic. First was Cutie Pie.

Ross's goose (Anser rossii) swims in the water at White Rock Lake in Dallas, TX

God, I love this bird.

The other was a male lesser scaup. Sometimes I see one or two by the dock, but they aren’t there every day like they were last year. They are very pretty, especially when the sun is shining and I can see the iridescence in their feathers.

A lesser scaup (Aythya affinis) swims in the water at White Rock Lake in Dallas, TX

I don’t need to ask your opinion, human: I know I’m sexy!

The Great Day of Play: October 17, Part 3

Posted on February 18, 2015 by pelicansrulegullsdrool

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!

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.

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.

NOT YOURS, HUMAN.

Can I balance it in my pouch while I swim?

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.

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.

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

Rouse!

Splash!

You show that water who’s boss, pelican!

One bird rushed toward the shore.

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.

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!

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!

Water Bottle Madness in The Great Day of Play: October 17, Part 2

Posted on February 18, 2015 by pelicansrulegullsdrool

The most play that I’ve seen among the White Rock Lake pelicans occurs during times of unrest and shifting population. Migration creates those circumstances. Lots of new birds come in to rest and recharge at a new place. There are no established social rankings compared to what an individual might find when stopping off at the lake during deep winter, when there is a fairly stable core of birds. Best of all, there is a lot of new stuff to explore! Last winter and early spring, the majority of the play I saw was among specific birds who were part of the stable winter population. I was very surprised when instances of play started racking up as birds came through on their way further south this fall.

In the following pics, the pelicans were out near the far-away logs. When I notice play, I try to document what is happening; I’m not trying to get super-awesome pics. A blurry pic can still tell me how many birds are involved, what the bird’s beak is doing, where the object is, etc. For the water bottle madness, I tried to pick out the least objectionable of the pictures I had. Extreme blurriness, however, is still the fault of the template, and clicking on the pic will give you a sharper version.

First I noticed that the pelican who had been tossing pecans in the air in part 1 had found an old water bottle. The entire time she was playing with the bottle, a juvenile was trailing after her.

The adult had been swimming with the bottle inside of her pouch. She plunged her head underwater, allowing her pouch to fill with water, and repositioned the bottle so that she could grasp it with her beak.

Why might she want to grasp with bottle with her beak? So she could play catch!

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

So what if the bottle didn’t really go up in the air? It still counts that I tossed and caught it!

Mine, all mine.

Balancing this thing in my beak is hard!

While the adult was playing with the bottle, the juvenile, who had been following her, darted forward and snatched up the bottle before the adult could get to it. By this time, a third pelican, another adult, had become intrigued with the water bottle play. Both adults chased after the juvenile, but she managed to hang onto the water bottle long enough to toss it into the air a couple of times, swim to where it dropped, pick it up, and toss it again.

Juvenile American white pelican (Pelecanus erythrorhynchos) plays with a water bottle by tossing it in the air at White Rock Lake in Dallas, TX

Weeeeeeeeeeeeee!

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

I WILL RESCUE YOU, FAIREST WATER BOTTLE!

But alas, it was not meant to be. For the third pelican sailed forward and snatched up the water bottle before the juvenile could retrieve it.

DOES THIS MEAN I AM THE VILLAIN IN THIS STORY? I AM TOTES A NICE PELICAN, SWEAR.

Hey, this is pretty fun!

I WILL TAKE THE WATER BOTTLE AWAY WITH ME IN MY POUCH, AND Y’ALL WILL NEVER GET IT BACK! BWA HA HA HA HA!

Luckily for the first two pelicans, the third pelican dropped the bottle in the water after swimming with it in her pouch. She batted it around with her beak for a little while, trying to pick it up, then lost interest and swam away. The juvenile was more attentive than the remaining adult and managed to grab the bottle first. She resumed tossing it about.

Wherever we go, everyone knows, it’s me and my bottle.

The juvenile tossed the bottle again, and the adult slammed forward, trying to grab it. The juvenile was able to pluck it out of the water and toss it again. The adult caught the bottle in mid-air and surged forward in the water, away from the other pelican, while gripping the bottle in her beak. While she was swimming, the bottle squirted out of her beak and landed in the water away from her. Both birds dove for it.

Two American white pelicans (Pelecanus erythrorhynchos) swabble over a water bottle in play at White Rock Lake in Dallas, TX

OH NO OH NO THIS CANNOT BE NO NO NO!

You had it for a long time, juvenile! Let me have it for a little while longer!

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

Toss, toss, toss the bottle. Toss it ’cause it’s mine.

Catch, catch, catch the bottle. Catch it all the time.

The adult tossed and caught the bottle in her beak several times. On the last toss, the bottle landed in the water. After a brief squabble between the pelicans, the juvenile picked up the bottle, and the adult swam away.

Finally, it is mine, all mine!

Mine to slosh in my pouch . . .

Mine to retrieve after I’ve tossed it in the water.

The juvenile tossed and retrieved the bottle several times.

She is just about to fling the bottle in the air.

After throwing the bottle, she swims forward to pick it back up again.

Then she seemed to play with it by gripping it, manipulating it with her beak, and dropping it back in the water.

Hello, my name is PELICAN, and I will be your server today. Allow me to pour your water. See? No problem. PELICAN pours so well.

Oh! Water bottle is so slippery! No worries; PELICAN will pour you more water very soon.

She continued playing with the water bottle for a little longer until she seemed to misplace the bottle and swam away when she couldn’t find it. The entire incident lasted six-and-a-half minutes.

The Great Day of Play: October 17, Part 1

Posted on February 6, 2015 by pelicansrulegullsdrool

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.

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?

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

Sometimes pelicans have the funniest “startled” expressions.

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

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

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.

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

A juvenile was swimming toward the shore.

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.

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.

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.

The adult gaped and snapped back.

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

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.

The Queen of the Log pelican fell asleep.

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.

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.

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

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.

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.

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!

When a Pen Loves a Gander . . .

Posted on February 5, 2015 by pelicansrulegullsdrool

Last year, K discovered something amazing: White Rock Lake’s mute swan, Katie, aka Lady Katherine, was mating with a goose called Patches. Willingly mating. Happily mating. In fact, Lady Katherine was usually the aggressor.

K was horrified that a swan would fuck a goose. She ended up deleting the pics she took of Lady Katherine and Patches mating because she was so grossed out. Luckily, I had witnessed a couple of their sexual encounters from last year and got some pics to document that it happened.

I wondered if they would rekindle their relationship this year. While Patches and Lady Katherine were getting it on last year, Patches was mated to a female goose called Annie with whom he socialized and had sexual encounters. Annie and Patches are still together.

Apologies for the blurriness in the thumbnails; goddamned WordPress is STILL compressing and framing my pictures strangely, despite some changes Q made.

Two geese drinking from a puddle at White Rock Lake in Dallas, TX

Annie (left) and Patches (right) drinking together from a puddle on January 23, 2015.

Mute swan (Cygnus olor) walking in the park at White Rock Lake in Dallas, TX

THE OTHER WOMAN.

On January 13, I was hanging out with Mister Mary Mack by the shore at Sunset Bay. It was cold outside—I’m not sure if the temperature even got to 40. Throughout the afternoon I watched the pelicans fly in and swim to the marshy spit where they loaf on cold days. When there were lulls in the pelican action, I watched the geese. Cutie Pie, the Ross’s goose that joined the goose flock at White Rock Lake, climbed out of the water and preened, and Lady Katherine waddled into the water and swam away.

Ross's goose (Anser rossii) preens at White Rock Lake in Dallas, TX

Cutie Pie is so adorable.

Ross's goose (Anser rossii) scratches herself at White Rock Lake in Dallas, TX

Oh! She’s itchy, too!

Two American white pelicans (Pelecanus erythrorhynchos) squabble on a loafing site at White Rock Lake in Dallas, TX

When the pelicans loaf on the marshy spit, which is small and narrow, established pelicans often gape and snap at newcomers who have to step through a dense crowd of sleeping and preening pelicans to find a spot for themselves.

American white pelican (Pelecanus erythrorhynchos) arrives at a loafing area at White Rock Lake in Dallas, TX

After weeks of wandering through the jungle, I happened upon a clearing where I saw the strangest sights . . .

I peered far out into the water.

Goose mating with mute swan (Cygnus olor) at White Rock Lake in Dallas, TX

Yep, that’s a swan with a goose on top of her. And she’s not giving him a piggyback ride.

Settle back, readers, and prepare to bask in the wonders of interspecies copulation. This is HARDCORE birdie action.

Lady Katherine and Patches started mating last year in late winter. At one point in time K saw them mating almost daily. I recorded two instances of their coupling in two days in late March of 2014.

Mute swan (Cygnus olor) and goose engage in pre-copulatory display before mating at White Rock Lake in Dallas, TX

Here Lady Katherine and Patches are engaged in courtship and pre-copulatory displays, respectively. Later incidents from this year are better documented in regard to their flirting.

Goose attempts to mount mute swan (Cygnus olor) at White Rock Lake in Dallas, TX

Lady Katherine plays hard-to-get, surging forward as Patches attempts to mount her.

Goose mounts mute swan (Cygnus olor) and attempts copulatory activity at White Rock Lake in Dallas, TX

Jesus, where the fuck do you focus when this is what you’re seeing?

Well, he’s at least a little closer to, er, sealing the deal.

Is Patches successfully penetrating Lady Katherine? I’m not sure. Sometimes it does not appear to be so, but that’s not surprising; I doubt any bird achieves success every time that sex is attempted. Patches does seem to know that he has to back up much further than he would with another goose, but as you can see in the last pic, he has to negotiate around Lady Katherine’s large tail, which makes the situation more difficult. I have witnessed Lady Katherine engaging in some post-copulatory displays, and I definitely have witnessed Patches in such displays, but I don’t know if geese or swans display after successful copulation or if they do so even after attempted but unsuccessful copulation. A couple of times I saw Patches’s pseudopenis still extended after he disengaged from Lady Katherine, but again, I don’t know whether that means penetration was successful or if he had been preparing for penetration but did not succeed. I don’t remember if Patches displayed after either of the attempts I recorded last year, but I do remember that once Patches dismounted after this attempt, he chomped Lady Katherine’s neck.

They were back at it the next day.

Mute swan (Cygnus olor) and goose engage in courtship/pre-copulatory displays before mating at White Rock Lake in Dallas, TX

Annie, suspicious of Patches’s claim that he and Lady Katherine were just “going for a swim,” decided to follow them.

Goose attempts to mount a mute swan (Cygnus olor) at White Rock Lake in Dallas, TX

All aboard the S.S. EWWWWWWW!

Goose attempts copulatory activity with mute swan (Cygnus olor) at White Rock Lake in Dallas, TX

Patches? What the fuck are you doing?!

Sadly for Annie, Patches was not yet ready to leave.

The mating sequences from 2015 will be displayed after the cut.

Continue reading →

Flapping and Fun: October 16, Part 4

Posted on December 11, 2014 by pelicansrulegullsdrool

Although it wasn’t a windy day, a pelican out in the water was having difficulty keeping her balance as she scratched her head. I laughed at her as she kept adjusting her wings to stay balanced. American white pelican (Pelecanus erythrorhynchos) scratching at White Rock Lake in Dallas, TX

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

Breathing is overrated, anyway.

The pelican who had been frightened away from the Log of Status was out stomping through the water. She tried to take off but was unable to do so successfully and floundered before getting back on her feet again.

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

Fuck this “walking” thing; it takes too damned long. I’m gonna swim!

She eventually made her way closer to shore, stopped, and began to preen.

American white pelican finishes flapping at White Rock Lake in Dallas, TX

But Mom, I’m only going to be out playing for a little while. Do I really have to wear five sweaters?

American white pelican (Pelecanus erythrorhynchos) grooms with her wings held out at White Rock Lake in Dallas, TX

I CAN’T PUT MY WINGS DOWN!

The pelican who had successfully challenged her for the Queen of the Log position had just made a startling discovery.

American white pelican pulls out a feather while grooming at White Rock Lake in Dallas, TX

Did this come out of me?

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

Here she resembles a Willie Stark–like politician soaking up the introductory applause before she begins a good ol’ rabble-rousin’ speech.

American white pelican (Pelecanus erythrorhynchos) preens its neck feathers at White Rock Lake in Dallas, TX

And now the Queen will do her imitation of her stuffy, out-of-it, non-populist political opponent.

Further out past the Queen of the Log log, pelicans who were lackadaisically hunting found some trash to play with. The younger bird seemed to enjoy swimming with the paper in her pouch, which I’ve seen a lot of birds doing when they are playing with trash out in the water.

Juvenile American white pelican (Pelecanus erythrorhynchos) plays with a crumpled piece of trash at White Rock Lake in Dallas, TX

Who said I would have to eat my words?

Then there were the soda bottle pelicans.

First there was only one, who kept trying over and over and over again to pick up the bottle. Her attempts attracted a nearby pelican to also investigate.

Two American white pelicans (Pelecanus erythrorhynchos) try to play with a soda bottle at White Rock Lake in Dallas, TX

Come play with us, pelicansrulegullsdrool. Forever, and ever, and ever.

The second pelican managed to get a hold of the bottle by floating it into her pouch.

Luckily for the first pelican, the second pelican’s success was short lived.

Maria, I was here first! C’mon, give me a turn!

The first pelican’s luck abruptly changed, and she was able to take possession of the bottle.

How the hell do humans drink out of this thing?!

OH NO IT DISAPPEARED!

Both pelicans searched for the bottle again, but after several seconds the second pelican got bored and started to swim away. The first pelican was able to retrieve the bottle one last time and even tried to toss it into the air from her pouch, despite its weight.

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

WEEEEEEEEEEE!!!!!!!!!

Another bird tried to play with an old beer can. I think it might have been the same bird who was playing with the paper, but I don’t have any way to verify my belief.

What else was going on?

Three American white pelicans (Pelecanus erythrorhynchos) loafing at White Rock Lake in Dallas, TX

Lillian decided that Constance and Taliah’s interpretation of Biff’s final confrontation with his father Willie was too dour and needed a burlesque striptease to liven it up.

Then I saw some action, but surprisingly, it wasn’t on the Queen of the Log log.

Two American white pelicans (Pelecanus erythrorhynchos) squabble over a favored loafing spot at White Rock Lake in Dallas, TX

If there is a pelican equivalent for “looking down one’s nose” at someone, the bird who retained her position is totally embodying it.

The first pelican who had been playing with the soda bottle wandered off and had a good flap.

American white pelican flaps her wings at White Rock Lake in Dallas, TX

Constance, Taliah, can I join your theater group? Watch this: “Double, double, toil and trouble. Fire burn, and cauldron bubble.” Am I in, or am I in?

On the 15th I had noticed a new bird with a red wing tag. Based on the color and shape of the tag, I figured that she was from the Minidoka National Wildlife Refuge in Idaho—I had seen a pelican the past year with a tag the same color and shape who turned out to be from there. The problem was that I could only see two characters on the bird’s tag: 5J. There were three characters on the tag of the bird I’d seen the year before. The tag seemed to be tucked under the bird’s wing, and I just couldn’t read if there was another character. I hoped the bird would flap so that maybe the action would let the tag swing freely and I’d be able to read the whole code.

Success!

5J1, an American white pelican (Pelecanus erythrorhynchos) originally from the Minidoka WMR in Idaho, perches on a log at White Rock Lake in Dallas, TX

She grew up in a Minidoka town, had an egg-layin’ Mama, who hunted all around. But she grew up tall, and she grew up white, with those Minidoka birds on a Minidoka night.

5J1 did indeed originate from Minidoka. She was a second-year bird, hatched in 2013.

She flew down here, at an age before 3. She blew the birds away, was more than they’d seen.

At some point in time the Queen of the Log log had been vacated. Although I hadn’t seen the bird leave, I did see when a new bird arrived.

When I left to go home, I noticed a cute little squirrel hanging around near the dock. She would stand up to reach a plant stalk, drag it to the ground, and nibble on whatever seeds or leaves that she liked.

The next post or two will probably not be about pelicans to give myself and any readers a break, and then I will resume posting about the Migration Madness.

Flapping and Fun: October 16, Part 3

Posted on December 11, 2014 by pelicansrulegullsdrool

Dread Pirate Roberts had finished her bath and moved slightly closer to the dock to finish grooming.

American white pelican (Pelecanus erythrorhynchos) flaps its wings at White Rock Lake in Dallas, TX

It’s the Dread Pirate Roberts show! Starring Dread Pirate Roberts! Watch Pirate stand!

Watch Pirate flap!

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

Watch Pirate show off her Halloween costume as a plague doctor!

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

Watch Pirate groom!

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

Watch Pirate get sick of this shit and swim to the Shore Log!

As Pirate performed her repertoire, Lady Katherine completed a grooming session and capped it off by rising out of the water with a full-flap.

Lady Katherine doesn’t always flap after grooming, but she has done it enough that K used to watch her very carefully every time she groomed.

A female mute swan (Cygnus olor) flaps her wings at White Rock Lake in Dallas, TX

Thank you for fitting into the frame, Lady K!

When she descends with her wings held out like that, the flight feathers remind me of the fingers on the white gloves of mimes.

I went over to the Shore Log to continue watching Dread Pirate Roberts. She had hopped on near the end of the log and was grooming. The other pelicans on the log were just hanging out.

A funny thing about allopreening among pelicans: almost every time I’ve seen it, the preener was preening a sleeping pelican. Often the pelican being preened would wake up and be pissed off that it was being touched.

American white pelican (Pelecanus erythrorhynchos) preens another pelican as they loaf on a log at White Rock Lake in Dallas, TX

Maybe pelicans are the creepers of the avian world.

American white pelican (Pelecanus erythrorhynchos) flaps its wings as it stands next to another pelican at White Rock Lake in Dallas, TX

Dread Pirate Roberts is pretending to be Olivia Newton John’s Grease character singing in the Shake Shack; the pelican involuntarily cast as John Travolta, however, does not think that she’s the one that he wants.

I went back to the dock.

American white pelican (Pelecanus erythrorhynchos) flapping wings while standing on a log at White Rock Lake in Dallas, TX

She looks like she was interrupted while plotting something and is now plotting against whoever interrupted her.

I love the way the water looks as it surges up from the splashing pelican.

The log pelican began to groom. Pelicans look so silly and adorable when they rub their heads against their preen glands.

Not all was peaceful in the land of the pelicans, however. From the distant waters came a challenger for the Queen of the Log position.

American white pelican (Pelecanus erythrorhynchos) snaps at a rival pelican at White Rock Lake in Dallas, TX

No way! Fuck off!

Flapping really seems to be a response to aggressive/frightening situations, at least based upon what I’ve seen. Challengers will flap; winners of a challenge will flap; losers of a challenge will often flap. When a noise or something frightens the pelicans and they stiffen up and go into alert mode, some will begin to flap.

Sometimes challengers will flap but then settle down after another pelican threatens to jab them. I really thought that the challenger was going to settle down and start preening after her vigorous flap. That wasn’t what happened.

American white pelican (Pelecanus erythrorhynchos) jumps onto an already occupied log at White Rock Lake in Dallas, TX

Oh, she went for it!

I am amazed at how high pelicans can jump when they need to.

At least the power transfer is peaceful.

The challenger immediately went into a flapping frenzy, then began to preen.

The loser, too, flapped vigorously.

The pelican Schmendrick: “Magic, do as you will!”

Now she poses as though she is a figurehead on the prow of a ship.

The new Queen of the Log pelican flapped again and roused her feathers, secure in the knowledge that no bird in Part 4 would challenge her position.

Flapping and Fun: October 16, Part 2

Posted on November 29, 2014 by pelicansrulegullsdrool

The Queen of the Log pelican decided that she was willing to share her log with another worthy bird. Unfortunately, that did not reflect well on the pelican snoozing nearby.

American white pelican (Pelecanus erythrorhynchos) and American coot (Fulica americana) stand together on a log at White Rock Lake in Dallas, TX

Meet Rebecca and Svetlana, the stars of TV’s newest blockbuster comedy about a very strange couple that just moved into the neighborhood: Pelican and Coot.

Further out in the bay, two geese had just finished taking turns dipping their heads in the water for foreplay and were ready to get down to business.

Geese attempt to mate at White Rock Lake in Dallas, TX

Hey, what are you doing? I’m supposed to be the one biting you!

Wait, now I’m confused. I thought I was supposed to bite you; you’re not supposed to bite me!

OW! Goddammit, forget this. I’m outta here.

Okay, I’m trying to be outta here.

The male was happy to terminate the mating attempt when he realized he could get a free ride around the bay by letting the female drag him.

The Queen of the Log got bored with her position and decided to move on.

American white pelican (Pelecanus erythrorhynchos) steps off a log to swim at White Rock Lake in Dallas, TX

I abdicate my position in order to be with my one true love . . . FISHIE!

Two pelicans had been swimming together around the bay, occasionally plunging their heads underwater to hunt for fish. They came across a piece of trash and squabbled over who got to play with it.

The pelican who was unable to get to the trash slowly moved on, and her partner abandoned the trash in order to keep up.

Then the pelican who had tried playing with the trash discovered an even better toy.

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

Oooh! Look what I found!

A brief note about play: Justice Stewart’s aphorism about pornography also works when trying to describe what appears to be object-oriented play among the pelicans. Some instances of play are very obvious, but some are not. Repetition is a good indicator that the pelican is playing, but what about when there is only one incident? In this case, the pelican appeared as though she were purposefully engaging with a useless object, and she had done the same thing with the orange piece of trash just a few minutes before finding the stick. I’ve seen some pelicans, when they are in a playful mood, pick up object after object after object to drop and toss around.

I am Donatello of the Teenage Mutant Ninja Pellies! Check out the awesome moves I can do with my bo!

I WILL SAVE YOU, APRIL O’NEIL!

What, Michelangelo? You think you should be the one to rescue April O’Neil? Fuck you! I will fucking beat you with my bo!

Yeah, you’re scared. That’s right. I know you’re scared.

“Oh no, it’s Donatello from the Teenage Mutant Ninja Pellies! I’ve heard she can take out five Foot Soldiers with one swing!”

Hmmm. This is much more difficult to swing than I thought it would be.

So, Shredder. We meet at last.

Take THAT, fucker! Oh yeah! You’re scared; I know it!

She swam over to where the stick had landed. I thought she was going to look for it, but when her companion started swimming toward her, she abandoned what might have been her search and decided to crown herself Queen of the Log.

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

Weeeeeeee!

Perhaps inspired by the Queen of the Log’s play behavior, a different pelican picked up a stick, although she didn’t seem very interested in it. That is not atypical for play behavior: nearby pelicans watching the play can get interested enough that they try to pick up nearby objects and manipulate them. Most of the time, like with this bird, they lose interest quickly. But not always.

I went to the shore to see what was going on over there. Several pelicans were trying to figure out a way onto the prime loafing areas without encountering too much resistance.

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

Room for two more? Okay, fine; fuck that other pelican. Room for one more?

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

All right, there, partner: you can stay this time. But next time . . .

I went back to the dock, where a pelican was splashing up a storm as she bathed.

A pelican played with the same bit of trash that a different pelican had found a couple of days earlier.

Another pelican made a mighty leap onto a high-up section of log, got attacked, panicked, and jumped forward off the log into the water. They would have been lovely pictures except I had the exposure set way too dark. Oh well.

American white pelican (Pelecanus erythrorhynchos) swims away after jumping off a log at White Rock Lake in Dallas, TX

But now that exposure level works okay, doesn’t it, pelicansrulegullsdrool?

A pelican that had been swimming suddenly stopped, stood up, and flapped mightily.

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

After a stirring performance Tamara was awarded first prize in the “air hula-hoop” contest.

Perhaps she was flapping to psych herself up for a confrontation, because after she sank back into the water she steamed toward the Queen of the Log log.

Out past the Queen of the Log log, Dread Pirate Roberts was bathing vigorously.

Sure enough, the swimming pelican reached the Queen of the Log log, paused, and launched herself into the air.

Two American white pelicans (Pelecanus erythrorhynchos) fight for access to a log at White Rock Lake in Dallas, TX

Holy shit! She just drop-kicked that pelican!

The pelican who was kicked managed to stay on the log.

You drop-kicked the mighty Donatello, then you stepped on her foot? YOU SHALL PAY.

When both of the birds were balanced together on the log, I thought they might settle down and share. I underestimated the original pelican’s dedication to keep the log to herself.

WATCH THIS, APRIL O’NEIL!

I may no longer have my bo, but I am a mighty warrior with the BEAK!

Watching them fight was like watching an arm wrestler slowly but steadily force an opponent’s arm down.

I’m losing? This isn’t right!

The pelican who lost looks like a cranky infant who was just put down into her crib when she still wants to be out playing.

The pelican who lost suddenly decided that she was going to fly somewhere far, far away. Then the pelicans of White Rock Lake would be sorry.

Part 3 will include more flapping, another fight, and much more Dread Pirate Roberts action.

Good News and Bad News

Posted on November 26, 2014 by pelicansrulegullsdrool

The good news is that today, the 25th, about thirty new pelicans landed at the lake, and a few of them began to play in the late afternoon. At one point four separate birds were exhibiting play behavior, which made me frazzled when I kept having to watch each one of them and decide who to photograph. An embarrassment of riches!

The bad news is, that’s even MORE pics that I will eventually have to go through, and I haven’t even started posting pics from the play sessions last month. I am not at all disciplined in my picture-taking, and almost every day I go out my backlog of pics grows by at least several hundred. In the next couple of days I will start posting pics from the mid-October migration madness.

The pelicans found, among many other objects, a child’s ball and an old, sodden tennis ball and had a grand time playing with them.

Another bit of good news: a bird that is rare for this area made an appearance! I was out on the dock at Sunset Bay late in the afternoon when Ben, another Dallas-based photographer and blogger whom I’ve mentioned before, showed up. He was watching ducks fly in as we were talking, and he noticed a white-faced ibis flying near them. He was able to track where she landed and take pics. I also got some pics of her grooming. The ibis was there for maybe ten minutes before she took off, circled a small area of the bay a few times—Ben thought she was looking for a better place to settle down for the night—and eventually landed behind a line of tall grasses.

I’m not sure what she was doing so far north at this time of year, but I was very, very glad to see her!

American white pelican (Pelecanus erythrorhynchos) tosses a ball in its beak in play at White Rock Lake in Dallas, TX

I’m glad I found this ball!

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

Posted on November 14, 2014 by pelicansrulegullsdrool

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.

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.

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

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

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

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.

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.

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.

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 . . .

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

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!

Swim for it, little one!

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.

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.

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!

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.

The Pelican Can

If it fits in my pouch, I can eat it!

Tag Archives: interesting behavior