Wednesday, September 9, 2020

PELICANS IN FLORIDA

My post today is going back several years, so any frame of reference I have about this place, has probably changed quite a lot.  The website is still current, however, and you can visit here.
I went back five years for these photos and chose Pelicans. We found lots of them on our vacation in Florida. These were taken at the Florida Keys Wild Bird Center (link above in red)  in Tavernia, just south of Key Largo. On five-and-a-half acres you will find an ever-changing population of hawks, spoonbills, pelicans, egrets, herons, merlins, pigeons and others needing help. The center's mission, after treating them, is to have the birds return to the wild.
A narrow boardwalk leading from the visitors center ends up on the water and is lined with large enclosures housing the birds, but as you look around you will see many who just 'hang out'. It is a great bird watching experience.



The following photos were taken in Sebastian, which is located approximately midway on the east coast of the Florida Peninsula between Melbourne and Vero Beach, in an area known as the Treasure Coast. It is recognized as the home of Pelican Island, the first designated wildlife refuge in the United States. The island was the reason why we chose our visit to Sebastian, which was a beautiful little town and one we would like to visit again.
If you look closely you will see pelicans sitting on top of a couple of those posts.






We booked a couple of seats on one of the local tour boats that took us over to the island.
More than 30 species of birds use the area as a rookery, roost and feeding area. In addition 16 species of birds nest at the refuges. The objective of The Pelican Island National Wildlife Refuge is to protect the historic rookery and to provide habitat for migrating birds and threatened and endangered species.
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42 comments:

  1. Wow, birds everywhere! I would love this place! You got lots of good shots. To me, Pelicans are in between statuesque and goofy looking.

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    1. It was wonderful Ginny and I have so many good memories of this trip. They are extraordinary looking birds aren't they, and I just love them.

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  2. I adore pelicans. Yours are quite different to ours, but delightful just the same.

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    1. Me too EC :) I have noticed that about your pelicans. I saw the totally white ones down in Florida also, but yours have a touch of black to their feathers don't they? I will have to do a search when I answer all my comments. Running behind as per usual :)

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  3. Beautiful birds they are.
    Nice photos back from 5 years.
    Take care.

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  4. A wonderful lot of Pelican image Have a good weekend.

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  5. Looks like a great area to visit. Love your photos. Hope you back there someday soon.

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    1. Muito obrigado, um abraço e uma boa semana contínua para vocês também :)

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  7. A wonderful place, the birds deserve human help. Beautiful photos and interesting information

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    1. I agree, they need all the help we can give them. Glad you enjoyed, thank you :)

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  8. Hello Denise,

    Great post on the Pelicans. They are one of my favorite birds, we saw a lot of them in Florida too! Great series of photos! Take care and I hope your day and week are great.

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    1. Thank you Eileen, mine also :) Happy week to you :)

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  9. the pelican is my favorite bird. and here where we live it is hard to find a place that has water that doesn't have at least one pelican and most places there are many. i love photo number 3, the crossed bills shot. amazing. beautiful memories

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    1. They are a fun bird Sandra, I love them too :) I would love seeing them as often as you do.

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  10. big and interesting bird!!!!

    Visiting the Keys, must be lovely. Have never done it, of course.

    💛🍁💛🍁💛

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    1. We enjoyed our visit to the Keys BB, it is live visiting a tropical country, and of course we loved the birds :)

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  11. Hi Denise,
    Super images of the wonderful Pelican, I was out taking images of the in Africa when a local walked by and said this is a bird called a Pelican, who's beak can hold more than his Belly can.
    You stay safe,
    John

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    1. That did make me smile John, thank you and you stay safe also :)

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  12. How great they are!
    I loved the birds.
    Thank you for visiting in August.
    Good week.
    janicce.

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    1. Thank you Janicca, I enjoyed my visit to your blog. I will be back soon. Good week to you also :)

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  13. Buen reportaje con estas elegidas imágenes Saludos

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    1. Muchas gracias, agradezco tu muy lindo comentario :)

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  14. I like pelicans. the are a very majestic bird.

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  15. Lovely to see these photographs.

    All the best Jan

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  16. Wonderful photos of the pelicans. That close-up at the top is outstanding. Your trip sounds like a photographer's dream.

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    1. Thank you GG :) It really was, the birdlife is amazing down there.

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  17. Funny and curious birds and ones we did not see many of when we lived on the VA eastern shore, Denise.

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    1. Hi Dorothy, I certainly don't get to see them much here. Too far inland :)

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  18. Wonderful pics, Denise. I love pelicans...love to see them.

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