peliconga

i came upon some pelicans

all dancing on an isle,

and as i watched them thru the trees,

i couldn’t help but smile;

i thought it was the strangest thing

that i would ever see–

until they formed a conga line

and danced into the sea!

–photo by me

More Pelicans, Please

I went back to Rapid River to get more shots of the photogenic pelicans. Here’s what I got:

Every spring, the pelicans gather at the mouth of Rapid River as it flows into Rainy River. The fishing here is unparalleled for both the birds and American as well as Canadian fishermen.

The surging river is a dangerous place, even for these seasoned water-fowl. This poor guy got knocked around on the rocks a bit, and he’s trying to get his head on straight again. Notice the wall of water crashing down behind him.

A giant wave explodes on the rocks. It’s hard to believe, but the river will be reduced to but a trickle in a month or two. It’s nature’s way.

I don’t think the fishing is going too well so far, because I see a lot of birds fighting over a single fish. I wouldn’t want to swordplay with these hungry scrappers.

–Photos by me

Pelican Day

The pelican pictures I posted the other day were well received, so I went back to the river yesterday to take a few more, and ended up spending the day there. A day in the life…

The day begins with a morning prayer to petition that the river bring forth food abundantly.

Then, it’s time to spread out for some serious fishing.

They do take breaks now and then for a little play–such as log rolling.

Finally, it’s time for a nice relaxing community bubble bath.

–Photos by me