A Pelican Roost

For the get-go fourth dimension since nosotros purchased our condo on Longboat Key, a grouping of dark-brown pelicans has established a roost on a mangrove island, around 50 yards off our seawall inwards Sarasota Bay.  Common local residents, these marine birds breed along both coasts of North America, from Southern California as well as the Mid Atlantic States, southward.

Brown pelicans by as well as large nest as well as roost inwards colonies, preferring offshore islands where they are relatively condom from predators; hither inwards South Florida, mangrove islets are nigh ofttimes used.  Once their breeding flavor has ended, around wander northward every bit far every bit British Columbia as well as New England, returning to to a greater extent than southerly latitudes inwards the fall; vagrants may fifty-fifty plough upward along major river valleys, specially inwards belatedly summer.

Comical looking precisely highly skilled every bit fliers as well as divers, dark-brown pelicans commonly feed yesteryear plunging into schools of fish, using their nib pouch to snare their prey.  Often observed at angling docks, looking for handouts, they are 1 of the nigh recognizable marine birds along southern coasts as well as are to a greater extent than than welcome on our inlet of Sarasota Bay.