"Feathers predate birds." – Robert T. Bakker
LAKE COUNTY, Calif. – The landscape in Lake County beckons birds of all species to feed or reside here, including bald eagles, osprey herons and grebes.
At least a hundred American white pelicans were on patrol recently, which could be viewed from the shores of Clear Lake at Austin Park.
Clear Lake, with its 110-mile-long shoreline, is a magnet, attracting birds of all sizes to its 44,000 acres.
Birds possess a wondrous functional beauty whether floating, flying, walking or perching.
Soaring high in the thermals above the lake, the American white pelicans, like rumors, were difficult to sight. Soon, the black bars of their massive wings came into view and the pelicans looked like rickrack on a blue silken sky.
They landed gracefully in the lake to join their growing squadron, as a flock of pelicans is called, of about 100 birds.
These remarkable birds are among the largest birds on our continent. With their huge heads and black-and-white wings outstretched they bring to mind prehistoric pterodactyls, since modern theories such as those of paleontologist Robert T. Bakker and others, believe that birds evolved from dinosaurs.
Pelicans sometimes fish together in their squadrons, cooperatively rounding up schools of fish like bathing cowboys.
Once they corral their prey, they dunk their pouched beaks into the lake to scoop up and devour their banquet.
American white pelicans do not fly with full pouches; instead, they consume the catch-of-the day before taking flight. They do not dive-bomb for prey as their cousins, the Brown pelicans do.
American white pelicans prefer small fish, and forage on wetlands and the shallow edges of the lake.
These birds are migratory, usually wintering from the American South all of the way to Central or South America.
Talented architects, pelicans construct nests of tule reeds and other sticks in shallow pits to lay two or three eggs, usually within colonies.
During breeding season the pelican's bill, along with its feet, sport a sherbet-orange coloring, as well as a “horn” or bump on its upper bill.
Of all of the eight species of pelicans, the American white pelican is the single bird type to possess a “bill horn.” When mating and egg-laying is complete the pelicans shed their horns. Then their bills and feet revert to a dull coloration once again.
Pelicans' wingspan ranges in width from 95 to 120 inches, making it the second largest wingspan of any North American birds. The California Condor wins first prize in average width of wingspan of a North American bird species.
Pelicans can reach a length, from bill to tail feathers, to about 50 to 70 inches.
The American white pelican is designated as a species of special concern and they enjoy protection by the Migratory Bird Treaty Act of 1918, as well as protection from the California Department of Fish and Wildlife.
Kathleen Scavone, M.A., is a retired educator, potter, writer and author of “Anderson Marsh State Historic Park: A Walking History, Prehistory, Flora, and Fauna Tour of a California State Park” and “Native Americans of Lake County.” She also writes for NASA and JPL as one of their “Solar System Ambassadors.” She was selected “Lake County Teacher of the Year, 1998-99” by the Lake County Office of Education, and chosen as one of 10 state finalists the same year by the California Department of Education.