March 2026 • Nebraskaland 43
years, barely changing in form over
this vast stretch of time. They are
living reminders of a world long gone,
sharing traits with creatures that
soared when saber-toothed cats and
mastodons still roamed the earth.
The pelican is a rare and humbling
reminder that we share this landscape
with survivors of an ancient story still
unfolding right above us.
Feeding
Unlike their cousin, the brown
pelican, which dive-bombs into the
ocean with dramatic splashes, the
American white pelican has a calmer
and sneakier fishing style. Instead of
fishing solo, they team up. Groups of
pelicans, sometimes more than 50,
gather in shallow water and paddle
in a loose line or half-circle. It looks
like they're choreographing a slow
dance, but they're actually herding
fish, working together to push schools
into tighter spaces. Once the fish are
corralled, the pelicans dip their heads
and scoop up their quarry into their
giant orange bills, which can hold up
to 3 gallons of water. Once they've
drained out the water, the meal goes
straight down the hatch.
A Seasonal
Spectacle
Nebraska is a key stop for pelicans
during their migration. Every year,
American white pelicans fly above Spotted Tail, a Platte River Basin Environments property near Mitchell. JUSTIN HAAG, NEBRASKALAND
American white pelican at Bluestem
State Recreation Area in Lancaster
County. ERIC FOWLER, NEBRASKALAND
