With a timing right on/around Earth Day – April 22, the peaceful waters of the St. Louis River in Duluth’s Chambers Grove Park become the temporary home of some very special guests—American white pelicans. With wingspans reaching up to 9 feet (1), these elegant birds make a brief but stunning stop in the Fond du Lac neighborhood as they journey north to their breeding grounds in Canada and northern Minnesota (2)
The pelicans stay only a few days, using the open river as a crucial rest stop (3). Their visit is a quiet marvel of nature, and locals have come to cherish this short, spectacular show.
Destination Duluth contributing photographers are out in a shutter-force to watch their massive wings gliding above the river, and then their peaceful congregation on the shoreline—it’s a breathtaking sight.
But beyond the beauty lies a deeper story of resilience and recovery. Once heavily polluted, the St. Louis River has undergone decades of restoration, transforming it into a thriving ecosystem that now attracts a variety of wildlife—including these majestic pelicans (4).
For updates on their arrival, follow Duluth Parks and Recreation on Facebook
Read a post from their 2020 stopover by Rich Hoeg on 365daysofbirds.com
Sourced Facts & Links:
- American white pelican wingspan – U.S. Fish & Wildlife Service
- Migration path through Minnesota to Canada – All About Birds – Cornell Lab
- Timing of spring migration – National Audubon Society
- St. Louis River restoration efforts – Minnesota Pollution Control Agency
