The American White Pelican

 The American White Pelican Pelecanus erythrohynchos is my nemesis bird of 2024/2025.  I first heard of them roosting on the tip of Point Pelee NP last fall.  I thought, what an amazing thing! Pelicans in Ontario!  I since have discovered that though they are not common migrants, they have been seen more and more in recent years.  I did try seeing them there, taking the early shuttle, but since learned that as soon as they see people, they fly out into the lake, so no luck.  I watched ebird all fall , trying for them at Rondeau and Holiday Beach to no avail.

The American White Pelican is a large white migratory seabird native to this continent.  They are one of the largest birds in North American and can measure 5 ' long with a wingspan of 9'!  They are quite a hefty bird weighing from 11 to 30 pounds, feeding mostly on fish and other aquatic organisms, using their large soup ladle bill to scoop the food from surface, they don't dive like other pelicans do.  

They breed in colonies in the interior of the country, the islands in shallow wetlands in the west, Manitoba and Saskatchewan, B.C. and Alberta.  One of the most important colonies in Canada is found in Prince Albert National Park.    They winter in coastal waters, bays and estuaries in the southern US and Mexico. 

This past spring and early summer there were sightings in Brantford and London.  I thought, while I'm doing a 4 week workshop at our HQ in London, I would hit London a bit early and check them out.  Ebird reports said they were at Fanshawe CA and Fanshawe Lake.  I had never been to Fanshawe CA before so I was excited to visit this place just outside London , Fanshawe Pk. Rd. and Clarke Rd.  I showed up 7:30 am one Tuesday, and was amazed at the large dam and reservoir at the CA.  I followed the directions on the ebird checklist, which took me down to the reservoir, and walked a short footpath to the bottom of the reservoir.  I enjoyed seeing fishing Osprey, Blue headed Vireo and many ducks, but no AWPE!  I had to get to my workshop, which was just 10 minutes away on Fanshawe Park Rd., so I thought I'd come back in the afternoon.  Still no luck.

During the week I got a notification that 3 AMWE were spotted at Canatara Park, an urban park great for birds which is about a 15 minute car ride from my work, I went on my lunch.  I scanned the small lake, still no sightings.  I went again after work with no success.  They were there for 18 hrs before they moved on.  Maybe I'll see them in the fall, but not holding out!

The next week, ebird indicated that the birds had left Fanshawe Lake, so I went to another location to find another lifer for me, Common Gallinule, no luck in finding these birds at the Strathroy Sewage Lagoons, but met some friendly people and realized this location was quite large and I needed to get more detailed directions.  Never did see the birds, but I realized that it was harming my mental health, trying to observe a bird with not a guarantee of seeing it.  I realized that 'self finding,' finding  a bird on your own,  is more enjoyable and better for your sanity than trying to find a bird that others have seen, but not shared exact details.

I did remember that one of the details of the ebird checklist for the AWPE did mention it was best seen from the golf course parking lot. ebird had indicated that some of the birds had returned, and on one of my previous forays to this location I did see a large white bird that the person I was with said was a pelican, but its appearance was too brief for me to photograph.   The last day of my workshops I went again in the morning to the Fanshawe CA, the girl taking my money ($13) for the 3rd time told me that she didn't know where they were but someone she let in earlier had said they were coming to see the birds.  I asked about the golf course and she let  me know that the golf course is not in the CA, its a separate entity called Fanshawe Golf Course 2 km away, still on Fanshawe Lake.  So after again not having any luck (though I did help a turtle cross the road) I decided to shoot my last shot and try the Golf Course after my workshop. 

 Within minutes of arriving I saw the birds!  It was a glorious and long overdue moment! I stared in wonder at how sedate and calm they were (it was 38C!) roosting on their log and I took a few shots.  A father and son showed up behind me and right away I knew they were there to see the birds, they were part of my tribe!  We chatted for a while while watching the birds, noticing a Neotropic Cormorant as well.  It was a wonderful experience and I quickly got on the highway to get back to Sarnia in time for my afternoon shift!