I finally saw the white pelicans.
Since moving to the Space Coast in 1999, I’ve heard about these majestic creatures. One Christmas, FLORIDA TODAY even published a short fiction story by my former colleague Pam Harbaugh about a lonely white pelican who had gotten separated from his pod.
I’ve always loved pelicans. I feel like a VIP when our native brown pelicans decide to fly escort as I cross Brevard’s causeways. I never get tired of watching them hover above the Indian River before free-falling in a spectacular dive, hitting the water at up to 40 miles per hour. Why do swans get a dive named after them and not pelicans?
While brown pelicans are plentiful year-round, white pelicans are among Florida’s original snowbirds.
During the summer, they breed in colonies on the banks of lakes in Western Canada and the northwestern United States. They fly south to spend the winter in Mexico, southern California, Texas, Louisiana, Mississippi and here in Florida, according to the Florida Fish and Wildlife Commission.
Their annual visits are short, only a few weeks. FLORIDA TODAY’s Craig Bailey has captured beautiful images of them, including at the Viera Wetlands.
But somehow, in the 26 years I’ve lived here, white pelicans have managed to evade me. At least until a couple of weeks ago.
They’re here! They’re here!
When photos of the gorgeous birds started popping up on the Merritt Island National Wildlife Refuge‘s birding page on Facebook in early January, I had to go.
I talked my husband and a couple of friends into a leisurely drive around the wetlands on a cool Saturday morning. If you haven’t been to the Merritt Island Wildlife Refuge, now’s the time to do it. You won’t be disappointed.
As we inched around the water on Black Point Wildlife Drive, we discovered little blue herons, great blue herons, wood storks and ibises. Pastel roseate spoonbills foraged in the shallows with graceful snowy egrets.
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We pulled over to the side of the one-way dirt road and got out of the car for a closer look. Ospreys flew overhead, clutching their brunch entrees. A couple of turkey vultures circled in the distance. A flash of pink too vivid to be a roseate floated above us. A flamingo? A pair of brown pelicans paddled along in water that shimmered in the sunlight.
But where were their cousins from the north?
Finally, swimming with the pintail ducks and plovers, we noticed a lone white pelican. It was huge and oddly out of place among the smaller birds. I couldn’t help thinking about Pam’s long-ago story.
Then we looked up to witness a squadron of white pelicans glided over in a V formation, their chalky feathers and the black tips of their wings distinct against the blue sky. We stood in awe, watching until they turned to specks on the horizon.
Success!
We loaded back into the car and finished the loop.
One sighting of white pelicans just isn’t enough
We talked about where the white pelicans were headed and wondered if it was worth continuing the hunt. Were we being greedy to want more?
We turned off State Road 406 onto Beach Road, heading to the park’s visitor center. Maybe someone there could point us in the right direction.
We hadn’t driven far when my husband spotted a fleet of white pelicans through a break in the vegetation along the road. “Turn the car around,” he said.
Once again, we pulled over and got out. As they swam, dozens of pelicans worked together, circling the fish and dragging their bills through the water in search of a snack. They were everything I hoped they would be and more.
We watched as they fished, so different from our diving brown pelicans. We took pictures and lingered, reluctant to leave their company.
Eventually, though, we had to say goodbye.
We drove away from the refuge satisfied with our find, ready to go in search of our own snacks.
Fish, anyone?
Suzy Fleming Leonard is a retired journalist who worked as an editor and writer for FLORIDA TODAY. Reach her at suzy@321creates.com.
Let the birding festival begin
The 26th annual Space Coast Birding and Wildlife Festival opens Wednesday and runs through Jan. 26, with exhibits and activities geared to expert and amateur birders, and a special Young Birders Event for kids on Jan. 25. For more information, visit scbwa.net.