Where to See Enormous White Pelicans in Western Kentucky This Fall
In the last ten or so years, we've been seeing more and more members of the animal kingdom in and around the Owensboro area than we ever had before. And I'm not just talking about creatures we've long known are NOT indigenous to our neck of the woods.
UNUSUAL KENTUCKY ANIMAL ENCOUNTERS
We had numerous occurrences during the spring and summer of black bears appearing in parts of western Kentucky and southwestern Indiana. There have been recent reports of ARMADILLOS in the area. There was a time when you didn't see them east of the Mississippi River, let alone around here.
And then, of course, there are the more frequent sightings of bobcats, coyotes, and foxes. This is their home turf; we just didn't use to see them with the kind of frequency we do now.
If you need toward southwestern Kentucky, down around Land Between the Lakes, you can catch sight of ANOTHER species I didn't realize paid visits to the Commonwealth. I'm talking about pelicans.
PELICANS AND SEAGULLS--BIRDS MUST LOVE KENTUCKY
This is so fascinating to me because I had no idea Kentucky EVER saw any pelicans. I figured Louisiana had the market cornered on them. But then again, I never expected to see the number of seagulls we had all over Owensboro about a decade ago during a spring that featured frequent and frequently unstable storm systems move through. Someone with more knowledge of the situation than I explained that the crazy weather had knocked them off their migratory track.
Maybe that same person (I don't remember who it was) would have some answers about the pelicans--and not just ANY pelicans. These are white pelicans and are among the largest birds in North America.
So how long has this been happening?
THE KENTUCKY PELICAN TIMELINE
I ran across a video from KYAfield on YouTube that shows a huge flock flying around and resting on the water. It's from 2012.
And then I found a chat forum for hunters that indicates these large pelicans have been visiting LBL for at least 15 years. And yet this is the first I've heard of it. I would love to square away some time and head down there and check this out.
Hopefully, all the Kentucky birdwatchers will make room for a rank amateur.