American White Pelican Flying #2

The American White Pelican (Pelecanus erythrorhynchos) is a large pelican that breeds in the interior lakes of North America and migrates along the... more

by Morris Finkelstein

Title

American White Pelican Flying #2

Artist

Morris Finkelstein

Medium

Photograph

Description

The American White Pelican (Pelecanus erythrorhynchos) is a large pelican that breeds in the interior lakes of North America and migrates along the Pacific coast to winter in California, Mexico and Central America. It measures about 62 inches in length and about 16.4 pounds in weight. It is tied with the Trumpeter Swan for the greatest length of any North American bird, and has the second greatest wingspan, after the California Condor! Its plumage is mostly white. Its bill is large with a throat sac underneath. The bill, sac, and bare skin around the eye are bright orange in breeding season. The American White Pelican doesn't dive for fish but catches its prey while swimming in groups and corralling prey. Besides eating fish, it also consumes amphibians and crustaceans.

This American White Pelican in flight overhead was photographed at Riverlands Migratory Bird Sanctuary, in West Alton, Missouri on 11-1-2019. I used a Nikon D850 camera body and a Nikon 500mm f/4.0 VR2 lens to capture this image. Settings: 1/2500 sec, f/6.3, ISO 640. This 3,700 acre sanctuary located on the Mississippi River watershed is managed jointly by the Audubon Center at Riverlands and the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers. About 325 bird species have been reported at this site, which is on a major flyway for migratory birds.

I am honored that my photograph is featured in the Fine Art America groups:
Birds In Focus, 12-1-2019
FAA Portraits - Birds, 12-2-2019
FAA Portraits, 12-2-2019
Images That Excite You, 12-11-2019
Coastal Water Birds - Shore Birds, 12-12-2019
Midwest America Photography, 1-28-2020
A Birding Group - Wings, 2-2-2020
USA Photographers Only, 3-21-2020
Animal Photographs, 3-25-2020, 12-7-2019
Trick And Treat Of Nature, 3-15-2021

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Uploaded

November 27th, 2019