Let's talk Pelicans....they put on a real show over the weekend along Lake Erie! We love watching their antics as they use their huge bills to slap and chomp at each other. The American White Pelican is a large aquatic soaring bird. It breeds in interior North America, moving south and to the coasts, as far as Costa Rica, in winter. In recent years, their nesting territory has been expanding, particularly into the Great Lakes region. They have been observed nesting in areas previously not considered part of their breeding range, like Lake Erie in Ohio. This expansion is likely due to several factors, including the availability of suitable nesting islands and changing environmental conditions. While these were observed along Lake Erie, there's an almost year-round population now at Grand Lake St. Mary's in central Ohio. Within driving distance for a nice daytrip! Here's some looks from the Magee Marsh Estuary trail on Monday morning.
