White Pelicans return to Tidy Island every year. Some winter visitors returning to Tidy Island by air are finding it difficult because of COVID-19. But, for American White Pelicans, this is not problem. A few show up early in October with large flocks appearing a few weeks later. They don’t like people very much. So, this part of Sarasota Bay suits them well. The image below shows the part of the shoreline that they use, nearly 5 miles (8 km) long. This part of the Bay is shallow, almost dry during very low tides.
Our Pelicans appreciate the shallow water between Tidy Island and the mainland because it discourages boat traffic. During the winter, they congregate at different spots along the shoreline, changing from day to day. The red, dotted line marks this part of the shoreline. There are on-going efforts to develop the mainland part of this but, so far, assaults on the mangrove fringe are being held off. Developers have destroyed most of Sarasota Bay’s natural shoreline by building seawalls and concrete canals for boat access. Most of the natural shoreline that remains is along Tidy Island and the mainland to its southeast. The homes built along the south shore of Tidy Island were built to preserve the natural shoreline, stabilized by mangroves.
White Pelicans on Tidy Island
The White Pelicans returning to Tidy Island are very different from our year-round Brown Pelicans. Brown Pelicans catch fish by diving headfirst into the water. White Pelicans, shown in this photo along the Tidy Island south shore, are more civilized. They work together to herd the fish and stick just their heads underwater to catch them.
There are many oyster reefs between Tidy Island and the mainland. The White Pelicans like to congregate on these reefs. Compared to Brown Pelicans, Whites are very gregarious. And, for big birds, they maneuver very well, as can be seen in this photo where a late arrival is finding a spot.
These birds tolerate humans approaching quietly in a kayak. They will even pose for a photo. The pouch on the bottom of the beak holds about 3 gallons (4 liters) of water. When they catch fish, they let the water drain out before swallowing . The wingspan of the American White Pelican is about 9 feet (2.8 m). They winter almost exclusively near coastal waters: bays, estuaries, and sloughs. They seek shallow water where the fishing is easy and congregate on high spots like sandbars and reefs. Tidy Island and its surrounding area satisfy these requirements.
They often land and take flight as a group and spend hours soaring over Tidy island as if practicing for their return migration north. Probably they stay over the island because of the heated air rising from the warm ground.
More information
Information about where to find White Pelicans in Florida is here. In the article under South Florida Locations, Bradenton – Cortez Village is on the north side of Tidy Island. An article called American White Pelicans: Florida’s Other Snowbird is here and has lots of links with more information. The always helpful Cornell Lab has information here.