73 American White Pelican

• A group of American White Pelicans are called a; Brief / Pod / Pouch / Scoop / Squadron.
• This one we saw near Rivers.  Note that it still has its bill horn, this it will shed after breeding.
• These are one of the largest of the Boreal forest birds.  Weighing in at 30 pounds and having a wing span of up to 9 feet.  These big birds just seem wrong on the prairie and Boreal forest.
• This bird is on the decline over the 60 and 70 decades.  Draining of wet land, human disturbance and pesticides are among the problems.  But over the last 30 years they have regained their numbers.
• Their incredible bill can hold 3 gallons of water, yikes.  When it catches a fish it will drain the bill by pointing it downward and then tilting it back to eat the fish it caught.
• They are beautiful gliders.  This is one way when you see a Squadron of them in the air what the white birds are.
• White Pelicans are not divers, they are dippers, working in groups to channel or herd the fish. 
• They nest on the ground and when possible on an island.
• They migrate to the Pacific or the Gulf of Mexico for the winter. 

•  This group is in the snow on April 30th, you can see the snow in the air.  They don't seem impressed.