Hagerman National Wildlife Refuge in March 2023 – Pelicans
/The American White Pelicans migrate through Hagerman and the birds were there during my two visits in late March. The first day was sunny and breezy. Breeding adults have a plate that protrudes from the upper bill; all the birds I photographed were adults…heading to breeding grounds further north.
The birds were mostly in the water although a group were standing on a snag in the water…along with a Double-crested Cormorant (note the size difference).
I did a short video of a group feeding together. They manage to synchronize their movement…herding fish toward the shallows! It’s a pelican ballet.
The second visit was cloudy and colder…and there were not as many pelicans. The wind made the feathers stand up on the top of ther heads.
