Boiling summer days on ponds and wetlands in southern Wisconsin produce a mirage of large proportions. One of North America’s largest birds, the American White Pelican loafs its way into a pod, kettling—as it’s called—high into the sky. Back on the ground, kettles—glacial formations where a pocket of ice formed bowl shaped depressions—start to steam in early morning, but by afternoon the pelicans have materialized onto the pond, and the pod hunts tasty and protein rich schools of minnows.
On recent looks into some man-made wetland scrapes in the sanctuary, we’ve seen schools of bullheads, and apparently their spines don’t do much to deter hungry pelicans. With three stomachs, pelicans can digest fish, fins, spines, and all. We’ve often noticed the teamwork of pelicans, when they line up and sweep through a pond, much like our summer intern crew sweeps through a prairie looking for patches of invasive weeds. The pelicans then presumably corner the minnows and scoop them up with their bills, feasting in iconic fashion.
American White Pelicans, photo by Arlene Koziol
Groups of pelicans have been swirling around Faville Grove on recent days. From a distance, the birds evaporate into the humidity, their white bodies fizzling with the heat, then they slowly circle back around, and you notice their black-flanked wing tips. In that slow instant, the birds materialize larger than life.
American White Pelican flock, photo by Arlene Koziol
We’ve also had close encounters with pelicans, as a pod or squadron flies right in front of us. You can hear their powerful wing beats, and it’s otherworldly to see such a large, colorful, and charismatic bird, only for them to saunter to the next pond and the next feast.
American White Pelican, photo by USFWS Midwest Region
Seeking refreshment and refuge from the summer heat, one might make a pina colada, adorned with an umbrella. After a handful of drinks, visions start forming, and a skyward glance might reveal shimmering birds of fantastical sizes; white like your drink, and adorned with a decoration too—the breeding horn on the pelican’s bill. You might find these languid birds or you might not, either way you might adopt the attitude of the pelican in your search—you hardly have to make an effort to see this unfathomable bird.
Written by Drew Harry, Faville Grove Sanctuary land steward
