Paddling under that big, BIG sky over Florida Bay! 🙂
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Florida Bay is where the big birds are!
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White Pelicans have arrived to winter in the Everglades. These majestic cousins of the more commonly seen Brown Pelicans are a sight to behold as they arrive in flocks of thousands to winter in Florida and many other parts of the southern US. Down in Florida Bay, the big birds usually arrive between mid October and early November.
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Brown Pelicans coming out to greet me paddling near the Oyster Keys in Florida Bay.
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I was fortunate to witness their arrival one late October afternoon!
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Higher up in the sky, hundreds of White Pelicans glide in formation in spiral circles looking for places to land.
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White Pelicans are among the largest of all birds, with a wingspan upwards of 9 feet. They are also some of the heaviest! Each year they like to over-winter in the southern states but actually breed during the summer up north.
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The flying behaviour of the White Pelicans is interesting to watch. They seem to glide along in loose circular holding patterns until they suddenly peel off in one direction!
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Like all migratory birds, the White Pelicans draft each other as much as they can.
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Once they drop to almost sea level altitude the White Pelicans love to fly in a single file, forming roller coaster type formations as their wingtips almost touch the water!
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The Pelicans are coming, the Pelicans are coming!
CLICK for: The Everglades are for the birds!
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A Pelican silhouetted in front of the Flamingo mobile phone tower miles away in the distance.
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Kayakfari ART photography – “Mirage on the Bay”
CLICK for: ART of the Bay – Florida Bay Landscapes!
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Over the vast stretches of open water and mud flats the White Pelicans can appear like mirages in the distance. They like to fly close to the surface in single file V-like formations that undulate like a roller coaster!
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White Pelicans on the move fly like undulating roller coasters over Florida Bay.
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Click on the two images below for full screen interactive panoramas!
Flying roller coasters of a thousand White Pelicans in formations over the wide expanses of Florida Bay, Everglades National Park.
CLICK for interactive superwide telephoto panorama!
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Hundreds of White Pelicans flying in a low formation miles away in the distance over First National Bank in Florida Bay.
CLICK for interactive super telephoto panorama!
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White Pelicans gliding over First National Bank in Florida Bay.
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White Pelicans flock to rest and chatter on the flats banks.
CLICK for: The hold up at First National Bank in Florida Bay!
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White Pelicans are very social creatures and they like to stay together whether in the air or on the ground. They also like to hang around Cormorants and the two species are often seen together.
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White Pelicans resting along the shoreline of Florida Bay.
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Brown Pelicans displaying their typical feeding behaviour – diving down to catch fish. White Pelicans don’t do this, they prefer to skim fish off the surface and other methods.
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I spy ‘Hubble Jr” in the wild!
(tools of the trade: SMC Pentax 1000/8 refractor)
Winter birthday triad on Florida Bay with the ‘Banana Boat’!
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The Everglades are for the birds!
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White Pelicans are shoreline birds and like to stick close to land.
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A White Pelican coming in for a landing!
CLICK for: The Everglades are for the birds!
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White Pelicans like to gather together in tight groups along shorelines and mud flats.
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Peering 5600mm deep into a flock of White Pelicans with ‘Hubble Jr.”
CLICK for story: Winter birthday triad on Florida Bay with the ‘Banana Boat’!
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White Pelican preening itself in the afternoon sun on the flats of Florida Bay.
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Sunset sequence over Florida Bay – but wait, the show’s not over yet!
CLICK for more Animated GIFs from the Everglades!
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Whole sky 360 panorama full moon and the stars on a partly cloudy night in Florida Bay.
CLICK for: ART of Darkness – Camping with the Stars! Part I
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Sometimes White Pelicans will circle overhead even under the moonlight – a rare sight indeed!
Camping with the Stars! Part I – a trip to the Moon!
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White Pelicans will stay down here for about five months or so and then start to head back up north to their summer breeding grounds in early April. Their departure also marks the beginning of the transition from the dry season into the wet season in the Everglades.
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With the sunrise the big birds start moving again looking for breakfast!
CLICK for: The Everglades are for the birds!
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Florida Bay is a great place to see lots of White Pelicans and observe wildlife in general. These large and majestic birds aren’t alone and you can check out more bird photography from the Everglades below.
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The Everglades are for the birds!
A White Heron catches an eel on the flats of Florida Bay near Little Rabbit Key.
The Everglades are for the birds!
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Kayaking and camping tour of Florida Bay for paddlers:
Kayakfari ART photography – “Champagne Dawn”
Chickees and Keys in Florida Bay – Kayaking, Camping and Nice Dreams!
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Enjoy!
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Bless UP!
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© 2016 – 2021 Flex Maslan / kayakfari.com / awakenthegrass.com / decoratedreality.com. All original photographs, artworks and music in this portfolio are copyrighted and owned by the artist, Flex Maslan, unless otherwise noted. Any reproduction, modification, publication, transmission, transfer, or exploitation of any of the content, for personal or commercial use, whether in whole or in part, without written permission from the artist is strictly prohibited.
All rights reserved!
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DISCLAIMER:
I hereby disclaim any sponsorship, endorsement, nor association with any product or service described herein. The photographs, depictions, products, and ideas presented on this site are for informational purposes only. Your results may vary, and I do not imply nor guarantee the effectiveness, suitability, design or operation to adhere to any standard. I assume no legal responsibility for the implementation of anything herein presented! Use any and all information at your own risk! By using any and all information from this website, you accept the final liability for any use or possible associated misuse!
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The maps and images on this site are not intended for navigation, I am not a guide; use any and all information at your own risk! Your mileage may vary .. so use good judgement before venturing out!
With that said..
Blessings friends!
Kayakfari
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