Hi Mike and Tweeters,

Prior to about 1997 the only place in Yakima County where we could hope to find American White Pelicans was at Priest Rapids Lake along the Columbia River. Andy Stepniewski, in his wonderful book "The Birds of Yakima County, WA", which was published in 1999, said that white pelicans were uncommon in spring and fall along the Columbia and very rare visitors along the Yakima River upstream to Yakima.

In 1997 to 1999 pelicans were starting to be seen more regularly along the Yakima River as far as upstream as Granger. I got my first Yakima County pelican in early May 1999, at the Satus WRA southeast of Granger.

There as been a steady increase in white pelicans in Yakima County since then. It is now common to see flocks of 50-60, with some flocks being counted into the 100s. In spring and summer I think they can now be rated as "common" in Yakima County.

I wrote the Bird Alert for the Yakima newspaper for over 2 1/2 years. John Hebert has now taken it over. American White Pelicans have been the most reported bird by people calling to contribute to the Bird Alert in the past three years. They attract a lot of attention as they soar over the Yakima River and rest along it.

The past two years there has been a flock resting on the Yakima River toward the south end of the Yakima Canyon just south of the Kittitas County line for a short period. Over 120 pelicans have been counted there.

A vast majority of American White Pelicans seen in Yakima County are non-breeding birds. We do see breeding birds early in the spring, before they head for wherever it is they nest.

Denny Granstrand
Yakima, WA


* Denny Granstrand *
* Yakima, WA *
* dgranstrand at charter.net *
digiscoped bird photos on-line at:
http://osprey.bardill.net/gallery/