On a visit to Eagle Bluffs Conservation Area this morning, a friend and I encountered the first flock of American white pelicans this fall. Having bred and summered across the Northern Plains, they are heading for the Gulf Coast and may spend a few days on the Missouri River floodplain before continuing their journey.
About 120 of the pelicans graced the refuge today and many more will follow over the next two months. Though they look like they belong in the Sub-tropics, these are hardy birds, reluctant to leave the chilly winds of their summer haunts and often departing the balmy southern bays by February.
Indeed, their numbers at Eagle Bluffs usually peak in late winter or early spring while their autumn migration is spread out and less spectacular. On the other hand, their presence is always a highlight at the refuge and this morning's vanguard, resting on the cool, foggy floodplain, was a welcome and inspiring sight.
