Teenage pelicans flock to Bow River to bask in dog days of summer

Rowdy teenage pelicans are hanging out along the Bow River again this summer, and that's an encouragingsign of environmental health in Calgary post-flood, says one biologist.

American white pelicans, among the largest birds in Alberta, have been spottedfeasting on fish along the banks of the river from the Calgary Zoo all the way down to Fish Creek Provincial Park.

Sightings dwindled in 2013 and 2014, after massive summer flooding in Calgary, biologist Chris Fisher told theCalgary Eyeopeneron Monday.

• Listen to the full interview with Chris Fisher here:

"But what happens in nature all the time is that these systems recover, and American white pelicans present on the river in 2019 is a perfect illustration.

"The fact that we're starting to see these birds regularly on the Bow River in numbers of a dozen, two dozen ... that's a really good indication that the American white pelican population, in Alberta at least, is doing quite well."

Where to spot them

The aquatic birds with their characteristic long, yellow-orange bills are much larger than the ubiquitous gulls and Canada geese that frequent the river.

"They're only about as tall as an ewok, but they've got the wingspan of Kawhi Leonard," joked Fisher.

Those pelicans spotted along the Bow haven't quite reachedbreeding age. They're the younger, more carefree "teenagers,"who are enjoying the dog days of summer, sunbathing on islands andsampling good eats aroundthe city, Fisher said.

"They're just kind of doing what teenagers do. They're just hanging out, having a snack, eating fast food. And then in acouple of years when they figure it all out, they'll be spending their summers breeding on the northern lakes."

Fisher saidthe birds will likely stay in the Calgary area until late September or October, when temperatures begin to drop and the birds migrate southto the United States.

Those hoping to catch a glimpse of them might have luck somewhere between the Calgary Zoo and the Inglewood Bird Sanctuary, near Harvie Passage, or down by Fish Creek, Fisher recommended.

With files from the Calgary Eyeopener.