"Hey Peter, did we make a wrong turn or something? What's the deal with all of this river ice?" "Hmmm, not sure Paul, but sure wish we'd stayed down south a little longer. Whose bright idea was this?" "Not sure Peter, I just followed you . . . "

It's easy to tell this was taken during the breeding season (this past spring) as American White Pelicans develop what are called nuptial tubercles on the tops of their bills. Both males and females develop these tubercles and they fall off when mating season is over; these are unique to the American White Pelican.

An incoming squadron of American White Pelicans tightening up their formation and banking to the west.

Two American White Pelicans practice their synchronized flying on an early spring day.

American White Pelicans may look a little wonky, may not be the most beautiful bird, but they are one of the most graceful fliers in the sky. When they pass through this area during their migration in April . . .

Northern Illinois is in the migratory path for American White Pelicans, and usually by late March or early April of each year they'll stop for a spell in a handful of local lakes. This particular group of 50 or so pelicans had split off from the rest of the bunch (up to a couple hundred) and had gone fishin' . . .