Each summer, thousands of American white pelicans migrate to northern Utah to breed on Gunnison Island, a remote piece of land situated in the far northern reaches of the Great Salt Lake.
The Gunnison Island breeding colony of pelicans is regarded as one of the largest breeding colonies of American white pelicans in North America.
In fact, not only is it one of the largest in North America, but Gunnison Island is also the only known breeding colony of pelicans in Utah.
This makes the Gunnison island colony quite important to the overall population of pelicans in North America.
But only having one known location to breed doesn’t mean seeing and photographing pelicans is hard, it is quite the opposite if truth be told.
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During summer, bird watchers and photographers alike can find pelicans on the Bear River Migratory Bird Refuge.
These large white birds come to the refuge to forage for fish and to roost during the day, and they can actually be found all over the refuge auto loop.
The Bear River Migratory Bird Refuge auto tour route is the best place to find American white pelicans during the summer months in Utah.
There have been times I’ve personally seen upwards of 500 or more pelicans in large flocks on unit 2 searching for fish in these large groups.
Gunnison Island is due west of the bird refuge, and this close proximity and abundant supply of carp and other fish make the refuge an ideal place for the Gunnison Island colony of pelicans to come and search for fish each day.
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All throughout the day, I have seen large flocks of pelicans soaring high above the Promontory Mountains as they utilize thermals to help propel them over the large mountainside.
Interestingly enough, a flock of American white pelicans is called a “squadron”, and they are referred to by other common names as well, including a “brief”, “pouch”, “pod”, and a “scoop” of pelicans.
If you are lucky and in the right spot at the right time, you can have a squadron of pelicans come right over you as they take off from the shallow wetlands and head back to their nests.
Seeing such a large and beautiful bird fly so close by is a thrill I hope any and all birders and nature lovers appreciate.
Pelicans are incredibly graceful in the air, either when they are soaring effortlessly high above the earth on a thermal or gliding just inches above the water.
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During summer, one of my main reasons to visit the refuge, and yes, there are many reasons I come to the refuge, are the opportunities to see and photograph pelicans.
Pelicans usually start showing up in early April and can oftentimes be seen well through October during most years.
This year, I actually saw my first American white pelican of the year during the last week of January on Farmington Bay WMA.
As I was photographing pied-billed grebes diving for fish, the large white bird shocked me as it came gliding in and landed on the small patch of open water right in front of me.
So you just never know what you will see when you go bird watching. That is why I personally think birding is so enjoyable.
It can offer a surprise at any time and no two days are the same, even on the refuge where I have visited countless times over the past several decades.
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