Monthly Archives: March 2009

Abundant Pelicans on Pool 8, March 22

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Pelicans on Pool 8American White Pelicans are again clustering on Pool 8.  Interesting to note that in 2008, I noted that on March 23 the pelicans were back to Pool 8 en masse. Please comment for us on where else you are seeing them!

A long-time river rat living on Grey Cloud Island observes that the migrating pelicans cluster behind the melting river ice  to feast on the winter kill of fish as they work their way into northwestern Minnesota. So they congegate in specific areas until the ice further north has melted.

While we have many American white pelicans who stay for the summer, now is a great time to watch them as many thousands slowly make their way up the river.

Sandhill Cranes and SPRING in the valley.

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crex-meadow-sandhill-11-copy1I had an Australian friend who never understood why spring was such a joy to those of us in the Upper Midwest—until she visited here in Winter.

Yesterday the sun was out, the wetlands were wet instead of icy and the Sandhill crane pair were “walking the land” as they do every spring. Normally they arrive with the yearling from last year, but this year there are only two. When they walked into the bottomland forest, our new resident eagle flew out! It was a great moment of birding on the farm.

I’m curious now to see whether nesting will be delayed this year by the slightly later spring (normally they are on the nest by April 5). And I wonder how they will feel about raising young with a pair of adult bald eagles hunting in the same bottoms.