American White Pelicans in the Desert!

Recently my daughter and I visited the Riparian Preserve at Water Ranch in Gilbert, Arizona. We had heard on the Rare Bird Alert for Arizona that there were American White Pelicans there. We joined up with 2 other birders and set about searching the ponds for them. Were we excited when we found them! What a beautiful sight they were as they moved in unison around the pond.

The Gilbert Water Ranch consist of 7 ponds and a small lake. It is a perfect place for migrating birds to stop on there way to far off places. Tucson also has a riparian preserve called Sweetwater Wetlands. Both serve as environmental education facilities and habitats for birds and other wildlife.


Below are some other birds we saw. This is a great place for birding!

Long-billed Dowitcher

Northern Pintail

Osprey

Neotropic Cormorants and Great Egrets