American White Pelican

Status Rare vagrant. Chamberlain (1887a) refers to a specimen from Nova Scotia without giving details. Between 27 September and 15 October 1948, about 50 of these spectacular birds were seen in small groups or alone within a very limited area in Kings County. A hurricane from the south that had raged along the coast was believed to have been responsible for their sudden appearance (Tufts 1949).

There were two subsequent records of this bird in Nova Scotia: a single bird stayed at West Bay, Inverness County, between 19 and 31 October 1977 (several observers, photographs); and another was at Merigomish, Pictou County, on 21 August 1981 (R. Baker et al.), probably the same bird seen and photographed at Wallace Bay, Colchester County, in early September (S.I. Tingley).

Remarks These very large white birds with black wing-tips, broad wings and ungainly beak are unmistakable. They breed in the interior of North America and winter along the Gulf of Mexico, California and both coasts of Central America, so their occurrence here is quite accidental.

The 16 birds seen at Port Williams, Kings County, in 1948 were in muddy tidal water close to the bridge. They seemed bewildered as they swam aimlessly about in close formation, showing little if any interest in the group of bird-watchers that had gathered along the bridge to view the novelty. The turbid water prevented the pelicans from even attempting to feed, and it was believed none would survive. A number were collected for specimens, all of which showed evidence of emaciation.