Where to See American White Pelicans at Grand Lake, Oklahoma

Out here near Snyder, we get our share of amazing birds, especially when the sandhill cranes come through in the winter. But one of our favorite bird stories happens a good day's drive northeast of us, in the green hills of northeastern Oklahoma. Every year, flocks of American white pelicans drop in on Grand Lake O' the Cherokees, and if you've never seen them, it's worth putting on your list. Meet the American White Pelican The American white pelican is one of the biggest birds in North America. It has bright white feathers, black flight feathers that show when it spreads its wings, and a huge orange-yellow bill with a pouch underneath. Its wingspan is among the widest of any North American bird, around nine feet on a big one. Unlike the brown pelicans you might see along the coast, white pelicans don't dive for their food. They fish while swimming, often working together in a group to herd small fish into shallow water before scooping them up. Watching a line of pelicans "corral" fish across a cove is a real treat. They're just as impressive in the air. Big flocks ride thermals on clear days, circling higher and higher together and flapping almost in unison. The Oklahoma Department of Wildlife Conservation calls them "truly amazing" to watch in flight, and we agree. When to Go American white pelicans nest far to the north, in the northern plains and Canada, and pass through Oklahoma on their way to and from their wintering grounds along the Gulf Coast. According to the Oklahoma Department of Wildlife Conservation, they show up on reservoirs across most of the state from early September to November heading south, and again from early February to May heading north. At Grand Lake, fall is the big show. Flocks usually start arriving in mid to late September, and many stick around into November. The local community even throws an annual Pelican Festival in Grove to celebrate their return, usually in the fall, with pontoon boat pelican-watching tours among the attractio…