A Passel of Pelicans on Humboldt Bay the Other Day
Video taken October 19 by Laurie Jensen
On October 19, a passel of pelicans sought safety in the Humboldt Bay area. According to videographer, Laurie Jensen, “High winds out at sea brought in every pelican to the calmer waters of North Bay
She told us that she had “never seen so many pelicans in my life.”
She estimated that there were three flocks as large as the one she captured on the video above in different areas of the Bay.
Below is a shot of pelicans on the Bay in 2010.
A smaller flock of pelicans on Humboldt Bay in 2010. [Photo by S. Schlosser/USFWS]
We think pelicans, in spite of being awesome, are overlooked. We’d love to see any photos you’ve captured over the years in the comment section below.
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They have been here for months. Had nothing to do with the high winds.
a storm is coming
Super warm strong south wind at WinCo today at about 12:30 PM.
Storm was definitely brewing.
Love to see them fly. Like something out of Jurassic Park
Yeah, they’re some kinda funky, prehistoric creatures. Ah, and that’s no bull.
Thank you, LJ for the fabulous video. I thought I was seeing geese flying overhead. No, they were brown pelicans.
By Dixon Lanier Merritt
A wonderful bird is the pelican,
His bill will hold more than his belican,
He can take in his beak
Enough food for a week
But I’m damned if I see how the helican!
In August I was staying in Crescent City for the night, at a hotel right on the shore. My Mom and niece were with me. Noticed a few pelicans flying north, just right off shore. Then a few more, and then bunches (quit counting after 50 in one group). It finally dawned on us that we were watching them migrate north. Several hundred until we quit counting.
I always knew they migrated north, but had never seen it actually happening before. When we got back home up on the Oregon coast, there they were, all over the bay. (Not sure the same ones, of course).
Love Pelicans.
Early one morning on the dock at Gil’s by the bay.
I would imagine there is a handle of Humboltians at Pelican Bay.
I also observed them from the Arcata Marsh and had the same thought – I’ve never seen so many pelicans in my life. Beautiful sight!
Shelter Cove has more Pelicans this year than I have ever seen before. The locals are saying it is because of an overabundance of bait fish this year.
an overabundance of bait fish is wonderful !
I agree. Keeps them from eating our cats.
Pelicans eating your cats? That is a head scratcher
Catfish.
Still scratching.
Have seen bait fish come up as far as the Eureka docks. A real free for all, gulls and pelicans just swarming. Even boaters out to get bait. Have seen pelicans fishing the Arcata marsh also.
Off Centerville Beach
Saw a hundred or more on Clear Lake when driving by. I was driving by. Not the pelicans.
We paddled in our kayaks with 50 to 100 of them in stone lagoon a few weeks back. Hung out right in their group.
It was a clear fall morning in eastern Oregon near some desert lakes. While I was eating breakfast I noticed a somewhat irregular splatting sound like the beginning of a summer shower and a rushing sound like a wind through distant trees. A flight of pelicans was circling overhead with chunks of fish falling out of their stuffed beak pouches.
That’s cool…I think…maybe weird…but definitely interesting.
Over Crab Park
There was a bunch down at the Arcata Magic Marsh a week or so ago.