The American White Pelicans are Back in Yakima!
Apr 3, 2014 01:23:53 #
Linda From Maine wrote:
I didn't know they arrived this early - or maybe these are just the scouts :)
If anyone can explain the growths on beak, please let me know (males only, or just in spring, or ?)
Canon SX50. Some edits in PSE 12.
The flight shot was taken last summer.
If anyone can explain the growths on beak, please let me know (males only, or just in spring, or ?)
Canon SX50. Some edits in PSE 12.
The flight shot was taken last summer.
Great shots, Linda. Thanks for sharing. I envy you that you have these photo ops. They did migrate through this area this year (though many natives say they have never seen them) and I was lucky enough to see the fly-by. Went looking for them the next couple to days, to no avail.
sleepydrdr wrote:
Great shots! I looked up the growths on the bills, and they are called "breeding horns". They get these on their upper bill, along with feathery crest on their head, during breeding season. Theses traits disappear after eggs are laid. Kinda weird, but must attract mates somehow.
So, they advertise that they are horny? Since when did big ole nose warts become a turn-on?
Apr 3, 2014 01:37:05 #
Linda From Maine wrote:
I didn't know they arrived this early - or maybe these are just the scouts :)
If anyone can explain the growths on beak, please let me know (males only, or just in spring, or ?)
Canon SX50. Some edits in PSE 12.
The flight shot was taken last summer.
If anyone can explain the growths on beak, please let me know (males only, or just in spring, or ?)
Canon SX50. Some edits in PSE 12.
The flight shot was taken last summer.
Love these birds. Great shots. I can't wait for the Pelican to return to Colorado.
Apr 3, 2014 04:39:00 #
Apr 3, 2014 06:38:08 #
Linda From Maine wrote:
I didn't know they arrived this early - or maybe these are just the scouts :)
If anyone can explain the growths on beak, please let me know (males only, or just in spring, or ?)
Canon SX50. Some edits in PSE 12.
The flight shot was taken last summer.
If anyone can explain the growths on beak, please let me know (males only, or just in spring, or ?)
Canon SX50. Some edits in PSE 12.
The flight shot was taken last summer.
Linda they are terrific shots. We have a huge amount of white pelicans around here but I have never seen them in those situations before. love the detail and lighting.
Apr 3, 2014 07:49:21 #
Linda From Maine wrote:
I didn't know they arrived this early - or maybe these are just the scouts :)
If anyone can explain the growths on beak, please let me know (males only, or just in spring, or ?)
Canon SX50. Some edits in PSE 12.
The flight shot was taken last summer.
If anyone can explain the growths on beak, please let me know (males only, or just in spring, or ?)
Canon SX50. Some edits in PSE 12.
The flight shot was taken last summer.
Beautiful from first to last, Linda! Really nice exposure and cool composition on the first!
Apr 3, 2014 08:13:39 #
Linda From Maine wrote:
I didn't know they arrived this early - or maybe these are just the scouts :)
If anyone can explain the growths on beak, please let me know (males only, or just in spring, or ?)
Canon SX50. Some edits in PSE 12.
The flight shot was taken last summer.
If anyone can explain the growths on beak, please let me know (males only, or just in spring, or ?)
Canon SX50. Some edits in PSE 12.
The flight shot was taken last summer.
Very nice captures, Linda....the growths occur on both males and females and announce the readiness to breed....the growths are lost after the breeding season ends... :thumbup:
Apr 3, 2014 08:46:08 #
Really nice shots. I was told by a volunteer at the wildlife rescue here that they use the growth to gently turn the eggs in the nest.
Apr 3, 2014 09:00:59 #
Photo Girl wrote:
Nice series Linda. Do you know what those bumps are on their bills? I don't think I've seen them on the brown pelicans.
Thanks Margo. sleepydrdr looked it up for us:
"They are called 'breeding horns'. They get these on their upper bill, along with feathery crest on their head, during breeding season. Theses traits disappear after eggs are laid. " And are the only pelican species that has it.
Maybe it's like breeding plumage in some birds - to each his own attaction, eh? :)
Apr 3, 2014 09:03:36 #
vicksart wrote:
Please correct me if I'm wrong.... I recall someone at the zoo explaining that the bump is an excessive growth of keratin, the hard material that makes up the bill. I don't remember whether he said it breaks off from time to time, but it's apparently very common and develops with age.
Terrific shots. Have you noticed that they disappear and reappear as the light hits them differently when they fly in circles?
Terrific shots. Have you noticed that they disappear and reappear as the light hits them differently when they fly in circles?
Thanks so much Vicki, I did witness that in-flight disappearance last summer. I think it happened when they all banked up-angle simultaneously. It was awesome!
sleepydrdr looked up the bumps for us:
"They are called 'breeding horns'. They get these on their upper bill, along with feathery crest on their head, during breeding season. Theses traits disappear after eggs are laid. " And are the only pelican species that has it.
Apr 3, 2014 09:06:50 #
STVest wrote:
So, they advertise that they are horny? Since when did big ole nose warts become a turn-on?
Thanks for viewing, Steve. I do appreciate the varied richness of wildlife this area offers. As for nose warts, to each his own attraction, eh? :)
Apr 3, 2014 09:07:19 #
Lorima wrote:
Love these birds. Great shots. I can't wait for the Pelican to return to Colorado.
Thanks so much Lori. Looking forward to some photos when you get yours!
Apr 3, 2014 09:07:45 #
Apr 3, 2014 09:08:09 #
infocus wrote:
Linda they are terrific shots. We have a huge amount of white pelicans around here but I have never seen them in those situations before. love the detail and lighting.
Thank you for your kind words, infocus. I really appreciate.
Apr 3, 2014 09:08:41 #
kerfree wrote:
Beautiful from first to last, Linda! Really nice exposure and cool composition on the first!
Thanks Kerry! I had a heck of a time wrangling them into that formation :)
Apr 3, 2014 09:09:16 #
hb3 wrote:
Very nice captures, Linda....the growths occur on both males and females and announce the readiness to breed....the growths are lost after the breeding season ends... :thumbup:
Thanks so much hb. sleepydrdr looked it up and mentioned earlier in the thread. To each his own attraction, eh? :)
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