{"id":42569,"date":"2016-10-10T05:47:11","date_gmt":"2016-10-10T11:47:11","guid":{"rendered":"http:\/\/www.onthewingphotography.com\/wings\/?p=42569"},"modified":"2025-09-28T09:52:27","modified_gmt":"2025-09-28T14:52:27","slug":"american-white-pelican-in-flight-over-farmington-bay-wma","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.onthewingphotography.com\/wings\/2016\/10\/10\/american-white-pelican-in-flight-over-farmington-bay-wma\/","title":{"rendered":"American White Pelican In Flight Over Farmington Bay WMA – They Are Migrating"},"content":{"rendered":"

\"AmericanAmerican White Pelican in flight over Farmington Bay WMA – Nikon D500, f8, 1\/2500, ISO 320, Nikkor 500mm VR with 1.4x TC, natural light
\n<\/span><\/p>\n

I get spoiled seeing American White Pelicans here in northern Utah during the breeding season at Bear River MBR, along the causeway to Antelope Island, at Farmington Bay WMA and flying high in the sky.<\/p>\n

Over the past few weeks though I have seen their numbers dwindle as they head south on migration. I might see some linger as late as early December but the majority of them seem to have already migrated.<\/p>\n

Late last month while I was at Farmington Bay I was able to photograph this American White Pelican in flight over Farmington Bay WMA up close as it flew past me. It was almost too close because in a few frames I clipped its wings when they were completely raised or lowered but with its wings at it sides and a bit further away I could fit the entire pelican in the frame.<\/p>\n

If you would like to follow some of the American White Pelicans from Utah on migration a few of them have been fitted with solar-powered GPS transmitter backpacks and the PeliTrack<\/span><\/a> map shows their locations. I find it interesting to see where our American White Pelicans migrate to during the winter.<\/p>\n

Life is<\/em> good.<\/p>\n

Mia<\/p>\n

Click here<\/a><\/span> to see more of my American White Pelican photos plus facts and information about this species.<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"

If you would like to follow some of the American White Pelicans from Utah on migration a few of them have been fitted with solar-powered GPS transmitter backpacks and the PeliTrack map shows their locations.<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":1,"featured_media":158290,"comment_status":"open","ping_status":"open","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"jetpack_post_was_ever_published":false,"_jetpack_newsletter_access":"","_jetpack_dont_email_post_to_subs":true,"_jetpack_newsletter_tier_id":0,"_jetpack_memberships_contains_paywalled_content":false,"_jetpack_memberships_contains_paid_content":false,"footnotes":""},"categories":[3,27,1022,697,26],"tags":[3966,4052,4122,4094,5465,530,4154,4,706,5464,4018,4095],"class_list":["post-42569","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","has-post-thumbnail","hentry","category-white-pelicans","category-avian","category-davis-county-utah","category-farmington-bay-wma","category-utah","tag-american-white-pelican","tag-flight","tag-flying","tag-marsh","tag-migrate","tag-migration","tag-pelecanus-erythrorhynchos","tag-pelican","tag-pelicans","tag-pelitrack","tag-sky","tag-wetlands"],"aioseo_notices":[],"jetpack_featured_media_url":"https:\/\/www.onthewingphotography.com\/wings\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/09\/american-white-pelican-flight-mia-mcpherson-4926.jpg","jetpack_shortlink":"https:\/\/wp.me\/p11Mom-b4B","jetpack_sharing_enabled":true,"jetpack-related-posts":[{"id":116734,"url":"https:\/\/www.onthewingphotography.com\/wings\/2023\/10\/04\/american-white-pelicans-fueling-up-for-fall-migration\/","url_meta":{"origin":42569,"position":0},"title":"American White Pelicans Fueling Up For Fall Migration","author":"Mia McPherson","date":"October 4, 2023","format":false,"excerpt":"Last week, I was happy to photograph a small flock of American White Pelicans fueling up for their fall migration in the wetlands of Farmington Bay WMA.","rel":"","context":"In "American White Pelicans"","block_context":{"text":"American White Pelicans","link":"https:\/\/www.onthewingphotography.com\/wings\/category\/avian\/pelicans\/white-pelicans\/"},"img":{"alt_text":"American White Pelicans fueling up for migration, Farmington Bay WMA, Davis County, Utah","src":"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/www.onthewingphotography.com\/wings\/wp-content\/uploads\/2023\/10\/american-white-pelicans-autumn-feeding-mia-mcpherson-1613.jpg?resize=350%2C200&ssl=1","width":350,"height":200,"srcset":"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/www.onthewingphotography.com\/wings\/wp-content\/uploads\/2023\/10\/american-white-pelicans-autumn-feeding-mia-mcpherson-1613.jpg?resize=350%2C200&ssl=1 1x, https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/www.onthewingphotography.com\/wings\/wp-content\/uploads\/2023\/10\/american-white-pelicans-autumn-feeding-mia-mcpherson-1613.jpg?resize=525%2C300&ssl=1 1.5x, https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/www.onthewingphotography.com\/wings\/wp-content\/uploads\/2023\/10\/american-white-pelicans-autumn-feeding-mia-mcpherson-1613.jpg?resize=700%2C400&ssl=1 2x"},"classes":[]},{"id":79091,"url":"https:\/\/www.onthewingphotography.com\/wings\/2021\/02\/10\/its-isnt-too-early-to-spot-an-american-white-pelican\/","url_meta":{"origin":42569,"position":1},"title":"It’s Isn’t Too Early To Spot An American White Pelican","author":"Mia McPherson","date":"February 10, 2021","format":false,"excerpt":"February isn't too early in the year to spot an American White Pelican on the wing in northern Utah. In fact I expect them to start showing up right about now.","rel":"","context":"In "American White Pelicans"","block_context":{"text":"American White Pelicans","link":"https:\/\/www.onthewingphotography.com\/wings\/category\/avian\/pelicans\/white-pelicans\/"},"img":{"alt_text":"Winter American White Pelican on the wing, Farmington Bay WMA, Davis County, Utah","src":"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/www.onthewingphotography.com\/wings\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/09\/american-white-pelican-in-flight-farmington-mia-mcpherson-3581.jpg?resize=350%2C200&ssl=1","width":350,"height":200,"srcset":"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/www.onthewingphotography.com\/wings\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/09\/american-white-pelican-in-flight-farmington-mia-mcpherson-3581.jpg?resize=350%2C200&ssl=1 1x, https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/www.onthewingphotography.com\/wings\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/09\/american-white-pelican-in-flight-farmington-mia-mcpherson-3581.jpg?resize=525%2C300&ssl=1 1.5x, https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/www.onthewingphotography.com\/wings\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/09\/american-white-pelican-in-flight-farmington-mia-mcpherson-3581.jpg?resize=700%2C400&ssl=1 2x"},"classes":[]},{"id":106588,"url":"https:\/\/www.onthewingphotography.com\/wings\/2022\/09\/29\/american-white-pelican-reflections\/","url_meta":{"origin":42569,"position":2},"title":"American White Pelican Reflections","author":"Mia McPherson","date":"September 29, 2022","format":false,"excerpt":"Two days ago, as the sun first flooded the marshes with light, I was at Farmington Bay WMA photographing two American White Pelicans float on the water.","rel":"","context":"In "American White Pelicans"","block_context":{"text":"American White Pelicans","link":"https:\/\/www.onthewingphotography.com\/wings\/category\/avian\/pelicans\/white-pelicans\/"},"img":{"alt_text":"American White Pelican reflections, Farmington Bay WMA, Davis County, Utah","src":"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/www.onthewingphotography.com\/wings\/wp-content\/uploads\/2022\/09\/american-white-pelican-reflections-mia-mcpherson-7234.jpg?resize=350%2C200&ssl=1","width":350,"height":200,"srcset":"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/www.onthewingphotography.com\/wings\/wp-content\/uploads\/2022\/09\/american-white-pelican-reflections-mia-mcpherson-7234.jpg?resize=350%2C200&ssl=1 1x, https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/www.onthewingphotography.com\/wings\/wp-content\/uploads\/2022\/09\/american-white-pelican-reflections-mia-mcpherson-7234.jpg?resize=525%2C300&ssl=1 1.5x, https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/www.onthewingphotography.com\/wings\/wp-content\/uploads\/2022\/09\/american-white-pelican-reflections-mia-mcpherson-7234.jpg?resize=700%2C400&ssl=1 2x"},"classes":[]},{"id":56166,"url":"https:\/\/www.onthewingphotography.com\/wings\/2019\/02\/16\/photographing-my-first-of-the-year-american-white-pelicans\/","url_meta":{"origin":42569,"position":3},"title":"Photographing My First of the Year American White Pelicans","author":"Mia McPherson","date":"February 16, 2019","format":false,"excerpt":"I drove up to Farmington Bay WMA yesterday morning because it looked like there was going to be some nice light and because the forecast for the next week looks rather dismal for bird photography and I'm so very glad I went because I was able to photograph my first\u2026","rel":"","context":"In "American White Pelicans"","block_context":{"text":"American White Pelicans","link":"https:\/\/www.onthewingphotography.com\/wings\/category\/avian\/pelicans\/white-pelicans\/"},"img":{"alt_text":"American White Pelican and Wasatch Mountain reflections, Farmington Bay WMA, Davis County, Utah","src":"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/www.onthewingphotography.com\/wings\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/03\/american-white-pelican-mountain-reflections-mia-mcpherson-3090.jpg?resize=350%2C200&ssl=1","width":350,"height":200,"srcset":"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/www.onthewingphotography.com\/wings\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/03\/american-white-pelican-mountain-reflections-mia-mcpherson-3090.jpg?resize=350%2C200&ssl=1 1x, https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/www.onthewingphotography.com\/wings\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/03\/american-white-pelican-mountain-reflections-mia-mcpherson-3090.jpg?resize=525%2C300&ssl=1 1.5x, https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/www.onthewingphotography.com\/wings\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/03\/american-white-pelican-mountain-reflections-mia-mcpherson-3090.jpg?resize=700%2C400&ssl=1 2x"},"classes":[]},{"id":51636,"url":"https:\/\/www.onthewingphotography.com\/wings\/2018\/04\/13\/reporting-wing-tagged-american-white-pelicans-helping-birds-by-helping-the-peli-project\/","url_meta":{"origin":42569,"position":4},"title":"Reporting Wing Tagged American White Pelicans – Helping Birds by Helping the PELI Project","author":"Mia McPherson","date":"April 13, 2018","format":false,"excerpt":"I know that I will be reporting any wing tagged American White Pelicans I see while they are here in northern Utah and I hope that others will too and help out the Peli Project!","rel":"","context":"In "American White Pelicans"","block_context":{"text":"American White Pelicans","link":"https:\/\/www.onthewingphotography.com\/wings\/category\/avian\/pelicans\/white-pelicans\/"},"img":{"alt_text":"American White Pelicans, Farmington Bay WMA, Davis County, Utah","src":"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/www.onthewingphotography.com\/wings\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/09\/american-white-pelicans-feeding-mia-mcpherson-8153.jpg?resize=350%2C200&ssl=1","width":350,"height":200,"srcset":"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/www.onthewingphotography.com\/wings\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/09\/american-white-pelicans-feeding-mia-mcpherson-8153.jpg?resize=350%2C200&ssl=1 1x, https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/www.onthewingphotography.com\/wings\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/09\/american-white-pelicans-feeding-mia-mcpherson-8153.jpg?resize=525%2C300&ssl=1 1.5x, https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/www.onthewingphotography.com\/wings\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/09\/american-white-pelicans-feeding-mia-mcpherson-8153.jpg?resize=700%2C400&ssl=1 2x"},"classes":[]},{"id":54375,"url":"https:\/\/www.onthewingphotography.com\/wings\/2018\/09\/30\/gunnison-island-pelicans-are-on-the-move\/","url_meta":{"origin":42569,"position":5},"title":"Gunnison Island Pelicans Are On The Move – Help Out By Reporting Wing Tagged American White Pelicans","author":"Mia McPherson","date":"September 30, 2018","format":false,"excerpt":"Bird photographers, birders, nature watchers and citizen scientists can help out by reporting all banded birds including our Gunnison Island American White Pelicans.","rel":"","context":"In "American White Pelicans"","block_context":{"text":"American White Pelicans","link":"https:\/\/www.onthewingphotography.com\/wings\/category\/avian\/pelicans\/white-pelicans\/"},"img":{"alt_text":"American White Pelican Wing Tag 90K - Glover Pond, Farmington Bay WMA, Davis County, Utah","src":"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/www.onthewingphotography.com\/wings\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/09\/american-white-pelican-banded-90K-mia-mcpherson-7990.jpg?resize=350%2C200&ssl=1","width":350,"height":200,"srcset":"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/www.onthewingphotography.com\/wings\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/09\/american-white-pelican-banded-90K-mia-mcpherson-7990.jpg?resize=350%2C200&ssl=1 1x, https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/www.onthewingphotography.com\/wings\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/09\/american-white-pelican-banded-90K-mia-mcpherson-7990.jpg?resize=525%2C300&ssl=1 1.5x, https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/www.onthewingphotography.com\/wings\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/09\/american-white-pelican-banded-90K-mia-mcpherson-7990.jpg?resize=700%2C400&ssl=1 2x"},"classes":[]}],"jetpack_likes_enabled":true,"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.onthewingphotography.com\/wings\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/42569","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.onthewingphotography.com\/wings\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.onthewingphotography.com\/wings\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.onthewingphotography.com\/wings\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/1"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.onthewingphotography.com\/wings\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=42569"}],"version-history":[{"count":0,"href":"https:\/\/www.onthewingphotography.com\/wings\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/42569\/revisions"}],"wp:featuredmedia":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.onthewingphotography.com\/wings\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media\/158290"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.onthewingphotography.com\/wings\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=42569"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.onthewingphotography.com\/wings\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=42569"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.onthewingphotography.com\/wings\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=42569"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}