The first time I saw these , I thought holy crap the Pelican's GPS was fried. We are approximately 1,000 miles from an ocean ! The most I had ever seen here before was less than 10. Last night I was rewarded with a group of 19 swimming about 'herding fish' from what I can determine. There were another 10 or so on the little Island (first shot). So it's legit. these guys come back here every year and then in early fall leave for Mexico or Florida. It was very cool to see these guys in the prairies.
What really surprises me is this is a local wetlands. It's not very big or very deep. I did not think it even had any fish, however it must have some minnows as these guys were dipping their beaks for something. There is an Alberta population and most are on lakes where there is real fish. From what I have read , they will fly up to 70km from their nesting grounds to go to their favorite eating areas (and this has to be one of them).
Pelicans are often seen feeding in the same area as double-crested cormorants (and there are few of them here as well). When cormorants dive, they may flush small fish toward the surface to become easy targets for waiting pelicans. A group of pelicans may even rob a cormorant of fish it has just brought up from deep water.
These are not the diving kind I have seen in Mexico or Costa Rica , they simply dip their beaks which can hold up to 20 Liters of water. (1 US gallon is about 3.8 liters)
Click on image for larger view
The clan
I see food !
Get at it .. there's not much here
Follow me I know where there is more
Exit scene -
Originally posted by vonBaloney 
ok ok you want something more specific haha I will send you a PM. 
Post #1 by daacon
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