American White Pelicans, Florida's Other Snowbird

Naturally Florida

American white pelicans are one of the largest birds in North America with wingspans up to 9.5 feet across. These majestic birds migrate to Florida for winter feeding grounds, before retreating north and west for the breeding season. Floridians may see these snowy white cousins of the year-round resident brown pelican, feeding in shallow water or soaring across the sky in silent flying V’s.

Learn more:

• Read and share our blog post on American White Pelicans: http://blogs.ifas.ufl.edu/polkco/2017/11/22/american-white-pelicans-floridas-other-snowbird/
• Learn about feather adaptations birds have in "Bird Feathers: A Guide to North American Species" by S. David Scott, and Casey McFarland, https://www.google.com/books/edition/Bird_Feathers/LhdExsnFNKIC?hl=en&gbpv=0 The black flight feathers described by Lara are included on pages 35-38.

How You Can Help:

Resist the urge to feed Florida's waterbirds

Read more about why, here: https://edis.ifas.ufl.edu/publication/UW193

Resist the urge to scare a flock into flight while enjoying Florida's waterways

American White Pelicans are very shy, compared to other water birds. Harassment of their flocks may lead them to abandon a feeding area, increasing their risk of exhaustion or starvation during their migration. So, consider avoiding flocks you may encounter on our beautiful waterways, give them a wide berth.

Encourage your local government to support the protection and restoration of Florida's wetlands and waterways

American white pelicans and other migratory waterbirds in Florida, such as ducks, depend on healthy aquatic ecosystems with ample vegetation, prey items, and good water quality.

If you enjoyed this episode, please consider sharing it with a friend who might enjoy learning about Florida's natural areas and the wild things that live here!

If you're active on iNaturalist, consider joining our iNaturalist project, Naturally Florida's Listener Observations, here: https://www.inaturalist.org/projects/naturally-florida-s-listener-observations