Perhaps your pelicans decided White Rock Lake here in Dallas is more to their liking? They winter over here, and herd themselves back and forth from the little inlet called "Sunset Bay" down to the spillway and back. I was astonished when I first noticed them several years ago. http://tinyurl.com/3x32yk33
Here in Saskatoon a weir was built in the river in 1939 and in the mid-'70s it was discovered by pelicans. We now have annual guess-when-the-first-pelican-arrives contests. They're usually here April to October, spending their nights on a couple of lakes out of the city and flying in to take advantage of the fine fishing for the day.
And of course, your winter birds are nothing like mine.
Brilliant as always, Christopher. I love your use of the term "atemporal" in relation to white pelicans. I've searched in the past for such a term in my descriptions of pelicans, herons, and other large birds, and I'll be happy to borrow it from you as I write, or simply think, in the future. Of course, by implication, the term applies as well to house finches and other creatures, large and small; it's just that these really large fellas really grab your attention. I was thinking of you recently when a belted kingfisher granted me all the time I wanted to study him perched on the large dead tree leaning over the peninsula across from Secret Beach. I was looking for the limpkins that day but they were hiding, but overjoyed at what was, for me, a rare chance watch a kingfisher at length, as opposed to seeing one dart past and disappear. It wasn't that long ago that I myself first noticed house finches. They were doing flash mob stuff in the trees just a block from our house in East Travis Heights. I couldn't get a good look at them. Suddenly one appeared on the pavement just six feet in front of me, and those crazy bright red feathers seemed like neon. Well, I digress. I'm really looking forward to your new book.
Happy New Year, Chris! White pelicans generally just pass through our area, though I tend to see them every year during fall and spring migration. Most commonly I see them when driving on I-35 to or from Dallas, making giant flapping loops in the sky while I try not to drive off the road. My parents reported them occasionally stopping over in Lake Marble Falls on their journey. Such amazing birds!
That washed-out red, the swish of color and fluttering. Leopold's observations of the pelican for me have changed meanings over the years as I observed the pelicans disappear in much of Wisconsin and Minnesota (thx pollution) and eventually return as their habitat has been restored.
A fabulous investigation, again. House finches!
Perhaps your pelicans decided White Rock Lake here in Dallas is more to their liking? They winter over here, and herd themselves back and forth from the little inlet called "Sunset Bay" down to the spillway and back. I was astonished when I first noticed them several years ago. http://tinyurl.com/3x32yk33
Here in Saskatoon a weir was built in the river in 1939 and in the mid-'70s it was discovered by pelicans. We now have annual guess-when-the-first-pelican-arrives contests. They're usually here April to October, spending their nights on a couple of lakes out of the city and flying in to take advantage of the fine fishing for the day.
And of course, your winter birds are nothing like mine.
Brilliant as always, Christopher. I love your use of the term "atemporal" in relation to white pelicans. I've searched in the past for such a term in my descriptions of pelicans, herons, and other large birds, and I'll be happy to borrow it from you as I write, or simply think, in the future. Of course, by implication, the term applies as well to house finches and other creatures, large and small; it's just that these really large fellas really grab your attention. I was thinking of you recently when a belted kingfisher granted me all the time I wanted to study him perched on the large dead tree leaning over the peninsula across from Secret Beach. I was looking for the limpkins that day but they were hiding, but overjoyed at what was, for me, a rare chance watch a kingfisher at length, as opposed to seeing one dart past and disappear. It wasn't that long ago that I myself first noticed house finches. They were doing flash mob stuff in the trees just a block from our house in East Travis Heights. I couldn't get a good look at them. Suddenly one appeared on the pavement just six feet in front of me, and those crazy bright red feathers seemed like neon. Well, I digress. I'm really looking forward to your new book.
I love house finches. Thank you for sharing their story!
Happy New Year, Chris! White pelicans generally just pass through our area, though I tend to see them every year during fall and spring migration. Most commonly I see them when driving on I-35 to or from Dallas, making giant flapping loops in the sky while I try not to drive off the road. My parents reported them occasionally stopping over in Lake Marble Falls on their journey. Such amazing birds!
That washed-out red, the swish of color and fluttering. Leopold's observations of the pelican for me have changed meanings over the years as I observed the pelicans disappear in much of Wisconsin and Minnesota (thx pollution) and eventually return as their habitat has been restored.
Beatiful images. I love the American White Pelicans, too.
What a rewarding read!
Re your mention of Charlotte McConaghy's Migrations novel, turns out it's called The Last Migration, here in the UK. And our local library has it.