We have been relaxing in beautiful Pelican Bay on Cayo Costa Island for the last week.
The big story is the number and type of pelicans we have been seeing this visit. In number there are an astounding number of pelicans, many more than the usual number. But most notably,there is a large number of white pelicans sharing the bay with the more typical brown pelicans.
White pelicans are migratory, spending their summers in places like Montana and Canada. They fly astonishing distances to spend the winter in sunnier climes. In the winter they are typically found in Florida on the far southwest portion of the peninsula - the Ten Thousand Islands/Everglades. We have seen them there in large numbers before - see our blog entry Indian Key Pass - White Pelicans of last December. Previously we have occasionally seen them in Pine Island Sound in small numbers, but right now there are probably hundreds in the area.
A cold front has recently gone through, so this may be a temporary migration stop, or maybe they will set up shop here for the winter - time will tell.
They have been difficult to photograph, as opposed to the ones we saw at Indian Key last year, but here are a few pictures.. I will add to the collection if I get luckier.
Tom
Pelican Bay
Cayo Costa Island
Lee County, FL
Map 2012-2013 Cruise
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| White Pelican in Flight |
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| White Pelicans in Flight |
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| Brown Pelicans in the Mangroves |
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