A flock of American white pelicans have taken up residence on McPhee Reservoir near Dolores.
The locally uncommon sighting was photographed and reported by Karen Boos, of Dolores, during a weekend outing on the eastern side of the lake.
"I thought it was unusual to see them here," she said.
This time of year the birds migrate over land, seeking marshes and freshwater lakes to feed. For the past week, a dozen of the bright white birds have been feeding on fish and crustaceans on McPhee in the two containment ponds near Dolores.
Bird specialist Glen Dunmire, of Cahone, explained that the species uses an interesting group-feeding tactic to herd fish, and trap them.
"In unison they will form a line in the shape of a crescent and together flap their wings against the water, driving fish ahead of them," he said.
The species of pelican does not dive for their food, rather they scoop it from the surface.
The American white pelican winters in the Gulf of Mexico, Florida, and Southern California, then travels north and breeds in late April and early June.
They are likely on their way to breeding grounds farther north in Wyoming, and on Gunnison Island on the Great Salt Lake in Utah. They nest in colonies of up to 5,000 pairs per site.
During breeding season, males and females develop a distinct bump on their beaks, which is evident on the McPhee flock.
It's possible they could nest along the reedy shores of McPhee.
"They're very opportunistic," Dunmire said. "I can't remember a sighting like this in Montezuma County. It's a great opportunity for people to view a bird different than we're used to."
The bird is protected by the Migratory Bird Treat Act. It has the second largest average wingspan of any North American bird, after the California condor.
jmimiaga@cortezjournal.com