Flapping and Fun: October 16, Part 2

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.

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

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!

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

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

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

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

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

Okay, I’m trying to be outta here.

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

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

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

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.

Two American white pelicans (Pelecanus erythrorhynchos) try to pick up a piece of trash to play with it at White Rock Lake in Dallas, TX

Two American white pelicans (Pelecanus erythrorhynchos) try to pick up a piece of trash to play with it at White Rock Lake in Dallas, TX

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

Two American white pelicans (Pelecanus erythrorhynchos) plunge their heads underwater as they hunt for fish at White Rock Lake in Dallas, TX

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.

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

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

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

I WILL SAVE YOU, APRIL O’NEIL!

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

So, Shredder. We meet at last.

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

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!

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

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.

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

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.

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

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

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?

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

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.

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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.

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

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.

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

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

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

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

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.

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

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.

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

WATCH THIS, APRIL O’NEIL!

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

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

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

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

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

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

I’m losing? This isn’t right!

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

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.

American white pelican (Pelecanus erythrorhynchos) takes off from the water at White Rock Lake in Dallas, TX

American white pelican (Pelecanus erythrorhynchos) takes off from the water at White Rock Lake in Dallas, TX

American white pelican (Pelecanus erythrorhynchos) takes off from the water at White Rock Lake in Dallas, TX

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

Flapping and Fun: October 16, Part 1

Last fall, Q and I had the good luck to be at Sunset Bay at several different times when waves of pelicans would land. A large group would suddenly appear very high above the bay, and the birds would slowly spiral down on the thermals. When the group got low enough, individual birds would begin raining down into the water. Sometimes all of the birds in a group would land, but usually only some of the group landed while the rest flew back up on the thermals and moved on. Sometimes birds on the ground would fly up on the thermals and move on with the other pelicans.

When new birds land, there is great potential for excitement: birds bathing, exploring their new environment, fighting with other birds for the best loafing locations, etc.

I was still seeing scissor-tailed flycatchers in the area, and when I arrived at the lake on the 16th, I saw one hanging out in a tree near a small field.

Scissor-tailed flycatcher (Tyrannus forficatus) in a tree at White Rock Lake in Dallas, TX

Several pelicans were swimming around the bay, exploring. Almost immediately a pelican forced another pelican off a slightly elevated loafing area, then stole her position.

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

I didn’t want it, anyway. HARUMPH!

The usurping pelican beat her wings in triumph.

American white pelican (Pelecanus erythrorhynchos) flaps her wings after jumping onto a log at White Rock Lake in Dallas, TX

MINE!

American white pelican (Pelecanus erythrorhynchos) beats her wings after jumping on a log at White Rock Lake in Dallas, TX

American white pelican (Pelecanus erythrorhynchos) beats her wings after jumping on a log at White Rock Lake in Dallas, TX

American white pelican (Pelecanus erythrorhynchos) beats her wings after jumping on a log at White Rock Lake in Dallas, TX

American white pelican (Pelecanus erythrorhynchos) beats her wings after jumping on a log at White Rock Lake in Dallas, TX

Whew! That felt good!

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

What are you looking at, human?

The pelican stood there for less than two minutes before deciding that the area just wasn’t good enough for her.

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

American white pelican (Pelecanus erythrorhynchos) swims with her wings raised at White Rock Lake in Dallas, TX

I thought she would swim around until she found a better log to jump up onto, but I was in for a surprise. She took off right there from the water!

American white pelican (Pelecanus erythrorhynchos) takes flight from Sunset Bay in Dallas, TX

American white pelican (Pelecanus erythrorhynchos) takes flight from Sunset Bay in Dallas, TX

American white pelican (Pelecanus erythrorhynchos) takes flight from Sunset Bay in Dallas, TX

The pelican she had initially kicked off the log also got in on the action.

American white pelican (Pelecanus erythrorhynchos) takes flight from Sunset Bay in Dallas, TX

The pelican who had taken off first didn’t fly very far, and I tracked her as she went by.

American white pelican (Pelecanus erythrorhynchos) takes flight from Sunset Bay in Dallas, TX

American white pelican (Pelecanus erythrorhynchos) takes flight from Sunset Bay in Dallas, TX

American white pelican (Pelecanus erythrorhynchos) takes flight from Sunset Bay in Dallas, TX

American white pelican (Pelecanus erythrorhynchos) takes flight from Sunset Bay in Dallas, TX

I looked around to see what else was going on around the bay.

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

Don’t mind me.

Then I noticed some familiar activity out on a log.

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

Yes, I definitely knew what was going to happen next!

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

I AM GOING TO EAT YOUR FACE!

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

GAH! What the fuck is wrong with you?

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

How do you like it, asshole?!

The attacked pelican was able to hold her ground and go back to preening. Sometimes when pelicans are hanging out, one bird will attack another for seemingly no reason.

A different bird engaged in a good flapping fit nearby. I love seeing the way they move their wings and what their wings look like in different positions.

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

Right as Lulu stepped on stage to begin her audition, she realized that she had wet herself.

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

MAYBE IF I FLAP REALLY HARD, I CAN DRY OUT AND NO ONE WILL NOTICE.

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

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

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

A sleepy pelican drifted by the Queen of the Log. She looked like a big floating marshmallow.

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

And a juvenile was stretched out, scratching.

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

I looked up and noticed a flock of pelicans overhead. Yes! This was the action I’d been hoping for! There were at least twenty birds in the flock, and all of them landed. Unfortunately, they landed out past the far-away logs, but they did eventually start swimming in to interact with the existing birds.

Flock of American white pelicans (Pelecanus erythrorhynchos) flying over White Rock Lake in Dallas, TX

Flock of American white pelicans (Pelecanus erythrorhynchos) flying over White Rock Lake in Dallas, TX

Flock of American white pelicans (Pelecanus erythrorhynchos) flying over White Rock Lake in Dallas, TX

Flock of American white pelicans (Pelecanus erythrorhynchos) flying over White Rock Lake in Dallas, TX

Flock of American white pelicans (Pelecanus erythrorhynchos) flying over White Rock Lake in Dallas, TX

A new bird waddled up to the Queen of the Log pelican. I waited for her to jump on or for the pelican on the log to snap at her. Instead, the intruding pelican began to preen. Nooooo!

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

A juvenile attempted to explore and conquer the log that a different juvenile had experienced difficulty with the day before.

Juvenile American white pelican (Pelecanus erythrorhynchos) tries to keep her balance on a log at White Rock Lake in Dallas, TX

And everyone said this log is so difficult to loaf on! You just need to step carefully . . .

Juvenile American white pelican (Pelecanus erythrorhynchos) tries to keep her balance on a log at White Rock Lake in Dallas, TX

. . . and get the other foot up on there.

Juvenile American white pelican (Pelecanus erythrorhynchos) tries to keep her balance on a log at White Rock Lake in Dallas, TX

I’ve got it!

Juvenile American white pelican (Pelecanus erythrorhynchos) tries to keep her balance on a log at White Rock Lake in Dallas, TX

Uh-oh.

Juvenile American white pelican (Pelecanus erythrorhynchos) tries to keep her balance on a log at White Rock Lake in Dallas, TX

No; this can’t be happening! I told EVERYONE how easy it was going to be to stay on the log!

Juvenile American white pelican (Pelecanus erythrorhynchos) tries to keep her balance on a log at White Rock Lake in Dallas, TX

I got it, everyone! Nothing to worry about! Go on back to hunting! Nothing to see here!

Juvenile American white pelican (Pelecanus erythrorhynchos) tries to keep her balance on a log at White Rock Lake in Dallas, TX

GODDAMMIT, THEY’RE ALL STILL WATCHING ME.

The juvenile’s brave attempts to conquer the log ultimately ended in a SPLASH. She swam over to the Stump and seemed to be debating whether she wanted to jump on when she decided to move along.

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

OH MY GOD, JUVENILE, HOW ARE YOU MISSING PART OF YOUR BODY?

Another pelican posed on the Shore Log.

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

Do you find me mysterious? I am trying to pose mysteriously.

Part 2 will be up soon, with more flapping and another fight.

Good News and Bad News

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

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

 

The Beginnings of Pelican Mayhem: October 14

The title isn’t entirely true; the mayhem started the day before, on October 13, when pelicans began to fight each other for access to colonize the nearby loafing areas. It was windy outside and the water was choppy, which made the pelicans’ abilities to encroach upon and defend new areas more difficult than usual.

On the fourteenth, the pelicans were still quite feisty. A large group kept circling the bay, hunting. Small groups splintered off to hunt on their own and later rejoined the main group. Other birds bathed and loafed, and birds who finished bathing or who wanted a break from hunting tried to steal log space away from loafing pelicans.

Because there are so many pictures in this post, there will be a cut near the beginning of the narrative.

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

Such a peaceful beginning.

Some of the swimming birds found trash to bounce around in their pouches in play.

Two American white peliacns (Pelecanus erythrorhynchos), one of which is catching a tossed piece of trash in its beak while swimming at White Rock Lake in Dallas, TX

A few days later a different pelican would find the same bit of trash and toss it around as well.

The Queen of the Log log was an important location in the day’s events (and in general in the lives of the pelicans at White Rock Lake). It is a small log that is maybe fifty feet away from the edge of the dock. Two pelicans can share it if they both cooperate. IF.

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

Oh, please. Do you really think I’m budging for the likes of you?

The juvenile was easily intimidated and moseyed away, but an adult thought she would try her luck.

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Two Random Pics: A Pelican Landing and a Yellow-Crowned Night Heron Preening

Recently there was a photo contest calling for submissions of pictures representing activities and wildlife at White Rock Lake. Neither Q nor I had ever entered a photo contest before, so we decided to do so for fun, not expecting anything would come of it (and we were right!). I was trying to choose between several pelican pics that I really liked, but when Q saw one of them, he became very emphatic.

“This one. Choose this one. You have a great deal of action and excitement with the diagonal pelican slicing through the frame.”

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

OH SHIT, WHERE DO I LAND?

In early July I’d seen quite a bit of a yellow-crowned night heron who kept preening, sunbathing, hunting crawdads, bathing, and preening again on and near a concrete chunk in the lower section of the spillway. I chose one of my favorite pics of her.

Yellow-crowned night heron (Nyctanassa violacea) grooming at White Rock Lake in Dallas, TX

Don’t hate me because I’m beautiful.

A Dallas birder, photographer, and blogger, Ben, did get an honorable mention, so I was glad to see that.

UPDATE: The winning pics are up, and . . . uhhhhhhh . . .

Some birder/photographers who have much more experience regarding this contest than I told me that the contest was unprofessional (in the context of real photography contests with real judges). The “judges,” who were not named or described (if I am remembering correctly), tended to choose extremely boring and/or clichéd pics. The photographers joked to each other that there HAD to be a pic of a dock as a winner!

Except they weren’t joking. Three dock-related pics were winners/honorable mentions! There were some pics that I liked, but in general . . . man . . .

If Q or I enter this contest again, we have a much better idea of what wins. Or, as Q said, “We can take a break while riding around the lake and snap a shitty picture of some boats or the landscape and win!”

 

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!

Birds at the Merritt Island National Wildlife Refuge: March 2014 Florida Visit

I’ve been up to (over to? across to?) Titusville several times in the past, either to visit the Kennedy Space Center or to watch shuttle launches, but I’d never been birding in the Merritt Island National Wildlife Refuge. My father and I went there together, and I got to see another bird I’d been hoping to see.

We paused along a pull-off point because I saw a few birds standing together and wondered what they were. The day was extremely windy, and taking in-focus pictures was a huge challenge. The birds were about the size of a heron, with pink feathers and a long, strange bill with a circular curve at the end.

They were roseate spoonbills. I had never seen one before nor even heard of them.

The spoonbills eventually flew off, and almost right as they did, a tricolored heron flew in and began to hunt. I was so pleased! Little did I know that I would be seeing more tricolored herons in the future, and in Dallas.

We tried the Atlantic side, hoping for brown pelicans, but there was almost no birds and LOTS of people. We turned away from the Atlantic, and that’s when we started seeing more birds.

Little blue heron (Egretta caerulea) perches on a dead tree at the Merritt Island National Wildlife Refuge in Florida

Oh, Little Blue, birdie, I love you, Little Blue.

Tricolored heron (Egretta tricolor) lands on a tree at the Merritt Island National Wildlife Refuge in Florida

Nice of you to drop in, madam!

The tricolored flew in right as my father and I were turning back from a trail that had ended in muck. As we would walk closer to the heron, she would fly and land just a little in front of us.

Tricolored heron (Egretta tricolor) perches on a branch at the Merritt Island National Wildlife Refuge in Florida

Just gorgeous.

Finally she got tired of us always catching up with her and flew off for real.

Tricolored heron (Egretta tricolor) in flight at the Merritt Island National Wildlife Refuge in Florida

BYE, HUMANS!

We went by a location that was frequented by manatees, so we decided to drop in and look. We didn’t find manatees . . .

Turkey vulture (Cathartes aura) soars through the air at the Merritt Island Natinal Wildlife Refuge in Florida

The turkey vulture, one of my father’s favorite birds.

Brown pelican (Pelecanus occidentalis) flies above water at the Merritt Island National Wildlife Refuge in Florida

HELLO, AGAIN!

The adult brown pelican was initially loafing on a railing in a restricted part of the river. She dove into the water, floated for a while, then took off and began flying in circles. A juvenile joined in on the flying fun.

Juvenile brown pelican (Pelecanus occidentalis) poops while flying above water at the Merritt Island National Wildlife Refuge in Florida

Pooping birds crack me up. I don’t know why.

Brown pelican (Pelecanus occidentalis) flies above water at the Merritt Island National Wildlife Refuge in Florida

ZOOM!

We went on a walk in an area of pine habitat, where we saw some scrub-jays and an immature bald eagle. Overall it was a good visit, and I hope that the next time I go to Florida, Q will come with me so we can check out the refuge together.

The Return of a Pelican: 53861, “Copper Woman,” is Back!

UPDATE: While looking through pics from this fall, I was able to definitively get the first four numbers off of Copper Woman’s band and submit the full 9-digit number to the BBL. Copper Woman is also known as 0669-53861. She was banded as a chick in 2008 and originated from Marsh Lake, Minnesota.

Now to the original post.

When I see a tagged pelican at White Rock Lake, I report her to the Bird Banding Laboratory. Last year I reported birds that originated at Marsh Lake in Minnesota; Chase Lake in North Dakota; the Great Salt Lake in Utah; and Minidoka National Wildlife Refuge in Idaho. I see many more banded pelicans than tagged ones, but I can usually only decipher a few numbers from the bands, and the BBL only accepts the entire nine-digit code.

Last January I was able to get five numbers off a pelican’s band: 53861. I saw her again a few months later at White Rock Lake, and I suspect she was there throughout that interval, although it would be difficult to confirm.

Two days ago, when the pelicans moved to the Stump and the Shore Log, much closer to people than before, I noticed a pelican with a coppery-looking band on her left leg. I’d never seen a band of that color and tried to get pics to decipher the number. I didn’t succeed.

But today I did.

And when I read the numbers that were visible, they were the same numbers as the pelican from last year: 53861. I suspect that the copper coloration might be from the band changing colors as it ages. Regardless, I shall call the pelican Copper Woman.

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

Copper Woman jumps onto the Shore Log on January 10, 2014.

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

She beats her wings triumphantly.

Four pelicans (american white pelicans; Pelecanus erythrorhynchos) stand on a log at White Rock Lake in Dallas, TX

Copper Woman is on the far left.

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

Copper Woman on the Shore Log on October 15, 2014. Welcome back!

 

Brown Pelicans Flying Over the Atlantic: March 2014 Florida Visit

A while ago I talked with J R Compton about what he thought were the two main types of birders: watchers and listers. Watchers, he said, are pretty much happy with whatever bird turns up, while listers know what they want to see and seek out their target.

I had a boss who was a lister. She asked me if I had a birding bucket list and seemed surprised when I said I didn’t.

In general I consider myself a watcher. I like pretty much all birds, and they can all be interesting. I even like grackles and gulls! But there were a few birds that I really hoped I could see. One was a tricolored heron. Another was the brown pelican.

Since I was going to be in Florida, I thought I might try looking for some brown pelicans while I was there. I found a likely spot in New Smyrna Beach, and off my mother and I went to find the birds.

The only problem was that I never found the turn-off that would take us northwest to where the birding location was, and we found ourselves going southeast along A1A, which runs along the Atlantic Ocean. My mother didn’t have a physical map, and my phone was refusing to reload any imagery of the map I had up. We talked about pulling over randomly and walking out to the beach, just to find out if we could see anything, but before we could decide to do that, I saw a sign for the Great Florida Birding Trail.

“Let’s follow that and see where it goes,” I said.

It went to the Canaveral National Seashore.

We spent a little bit of time on the Indian River side before going out to the Atlantic to look for the brown pelicans.

Black vulture (Coragyps atratus) standing on a sign post at Canaveral National Seashore

Not a brown pelican, but welcome nonetheless.

There were a few birds hanging out on the beach.

A royal tern (Thalasseus maximus) on the shore of the Atlantic Ocean at Canaveral National Seashore

All the Forsters Terns at White Rock Lake will see this pic and begin to mournfully sing, “And we’ll never be royals . . . “

A ruddy turnstone (Arenaria interpres) on the shore of the Atlantic Ocean at Canaveral National Seashore

Ruddy Turnstone among shrimp.

Then my mother spotted a group of brown pelicans. Several small groups came through in waves, and occasionally a loner would fly in by herself. The pelicans were flying from south to north. Because I was so used to white pelicans, the coloration of the brown pelicans shocked me; they looked as though they had painted their faces with garishly colored make-up.

Four brown pelicans (Pelecanus occidentalis) flying over the Atlantic Ocean at Canaveral National Seashore

 

Two brown pelicans (Pelecanus occidentalis) flying over the Atlantic Ocean at Canaveral National Seashore

When I would watch groups of pelicans fly into Sunset Bay to loaf, I would hum the opening to Holst’s “Mars.” I did this with the brown pelicans. My mother tried to compete with me. She began humming Wagner’s “Ride of the Valkyries” despite my protestations and explanations why “Mars” was clearly the better choice. She won. I started humming “Ride of the Valkyries” with her as the pelicans soared over us.

Juvenile brown pelican (Pelecanus occidentalis) flying over the Atlantic Ocean at Canaveral National Seashore

Juvenile brown pelican (Pelecanus occidentalis) flying over the Atlantic Ocean at Canaveral National Seashore

Brown pelican flying (Pelecanus occidentalis) over the Atlantic Ocean at Canaveral National Seashore

Brown pelican (Pelecanus occidentalis) flying over the Atlantic Ocean at Canaveral National Seashore

Brown pelican (Pelecanus occidentalis) flying over the Atlantic Ocean at Canaveral National Seashore

Brown pelican (Pelecanus occidentalis) flying over the Atlantic Ocean at Canaveral National Seashore

Four brown pelicans (Pelecanus occidentalis) flying over the Atlantic Ocean at Canaveral National Seashore

We decided that we’d had a good outing and that we’d let one more flock of birds go by before we left. After all, we had driven much further than we’d anticipated and still had to get back home.

Three brown pelicans (Pelecanus occidentalis) flying over the Atlantic Ocean at Canaveral National Seashore

Good night, and thank you.