Pelicans Take Refuge From The Storm

Every year I look forward to summer. Here in Wisconsin the winters can be long although they aren't as cold and snowy as they used to be. The climate is definitely changing. That being said, it's still Wisconsin and it's still colder than the southern climates. There are pros and cons. The cons of summer are mosquitos or other insects and the humidity. The pros are the abundance of wildlife and birds. From this blog, you know how I much I enjoy all of that.

Yesterday we had a tornado watch. A watch means that conditions are in place for a tornado to form. Fortunately we didn't have a tornado. Other parts of the state had high water and tornado sightings but I was lucky. My heart goes out to other parts of the country who have suffered so much. 

 

The reason for this blog is to talk about the Pelicans that landed in my protected marsh to wait out the storm. I get Pelicans a couple times a year, but nothing like this. There were hundreds of them all crowded on the northeast shoreline. I wish I could read their mind. My assumption was that huddling together gave them protection from impending weather. They must have chosen that shoreline for some reason. Maybe it was the best protection from the winds and storm coming from the southwest. I could be totally wrong on this, but I do a lot of speculation as far as the birds and wildlife are concerned. If only they could talk. 

I could only get part of them in the photo frame but there was another large group. I tried to count but it was impossible. I don't know where they came from or where they went, but two hours before the tornado watch was cancelled, they left. I felt they knew instinctively that the risk was over. They left in groups. The first group swam and flew to the other shoreline. Whether this was a test to make sure the coast was clear, I really don't know.

 

 

Then they started flying to the far southern part of the marsh. Group by group they took off. It was very orderly.

Sorry for all the photos, but they were extremely interesting. Little by little they all met at the southern shoreline. 

 

Eventually they all left to parts unknown. Maybe they will be back some day. A group usually comes for a day or two to eat, but I have never seen them take protection from a storm. I'm glad my marsh could help.