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The American White Pelican (Pelecanus erythrorhynchos) is a huge bird!  With an 8 to 9 1/2 foot wingspan and weighing in at up to 30 pounds, it rivals the California Condor for size and weight.  They occur mainly in western and southern portions of North America, breeding inland in colonies on remote islands and wintering [...]

The April 2010 Gulf oil spill was obviously devastating to the region’s wildlife. However, oiled birds would have suffered even more were it not for the relief workers attending to as many as they could. Now HBO Documentary Films presents Saving Pelican 895,  the story of the effort to save the 895th surviving oiled pelican [...]

My visit to La Jolla at the very end of 2010 was not my first visit to the gorgeous seaside cliffs in southern California.  I’ve visited several times, and have even blogged about the experience previously.  Though there is not a huge variety of birds, especially in winter, the birds that are there are acclimated [...]

The American White Pelican Pelecanus erythrorhynchos that was first reported from Jamaica Bay on Wednesday, 14 July, (and that I twitched on 15 July) was still present in the same spot as of yesterday.  Those who have gone looking for it in the afternoon during or after the high tide have not seen it while [...]

There is nothing more cruel to a birder than being at work when the report of a rarity flashes across the listservs.  Such was my fate on Wednesday when back-to-back reports from Jamaica Bay were posted and I could do nothing but toil for my paycheck.  To be stuck breathing artificial air under artificial light [...]