Sherry Sylvester, an 11-year resident of Lac La Nonne, has enjoyed taking pictures of the pelicans during her regular kayak trips.
“There are over 60 pelicans in the bay where I kayak although they fly away with the increased boat traffic on the lake," shared Sylvester.
“The pelicans have been coming into the bay at the boat launch at Klondike Park, early in the morning or later in the afternoon.”
In Alberta, pelicans can be typically found on fish-bearing lakes through-out the province during mating season between spring and fall.
Sylvester commented that the pelicans at Lac La Nonne normally arrive in the spring and leave by July or August, depending on the year.
The pelicans then fly south in the wintertime, as late as October where they migrate to South Carolina or Mexico as per Sylvester.
“I have noticed the pelicans have been here for the past four years,” remarked Sylvester.
Pelicans who can breed have a bump on top of their beaks.
This is called the breeder bump, and it is how the birds know pick a partner for breeding. It falls off after breeding season explained Sylvester.
As one of the largest native birds to North America, the pelican is a sight to see.
These birds have been prioritized for conservation and Environment Canada is working to keep their population numbers steady through habitat protection and monitoring.
