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The American White Pelican is an inland water bird, whereas its cousin the Brown Pelican is strictly coastal. Both species are distinctive and known to almost everyone as the bird whose beak holds more than his belly can. American White Pelicans breed on islands in wetlands in south-central Canada, the western two-thirds of the interior U.S. (except southern California), and the western interior of Mexico. They spend their winters in most of the same areas they breed in and also in southern California in water bodies such as Lake Perris. American White Pelicans feed from the water's surface, dipping their beaks into the water to catch fish and other aquatic organisms. They do not plunge-dive like Brown Pelicans. American White Pelicans travel and forage in large flocks, sometimes flying in V-formations. American White Pelicans have been observed at least once at Four Seasons, always as a flyover, and can be seen any winter day at Lake Perris. ~ Steve Edelman Birding CLUB Bird of the Month The Birding Club welcomes beginning and experienced birders to start or hone bird identification skills. Our main activity is a monthly bird walk along Four Seasons' nature trails, which follow native riparian woodlands. We keep a list of all species observed at Four Seasons and take seasonal field trips to nearby birding hot spots. On our Feb. 23 field trip to Lake Perris, a warm sun shone on 46 species, a new record for the club! Our three-hour walk whizzed by as we chatted and laughed between the bird sightings, which were highlighted by a Great Horned Owl, Ring-necked Pheasant, lots of American White Pelicans (our Bird of the Month), a flock of White-throated Swifts, Common Loon, Osprey, Bonaparte's and Ring-billed Gulls, and three swallow species. There were easily a thousand Western Grebes and we were treated to good looks at a pair doing their famous courtship dance. We observed a single Horned Grebe – a local rarity reportable to the IE rare bird alert. Bill and Genie Cooper and carpooling passenger Lavonne Andres, while driving from Lake Perris to our lunch rendezvous, had a flyover Bald Eagle as they entered Beaumont on Hwy 60. We reconvened for a wonderful lunch at Marla's. We meet on the first Saturday of the month at 8 am at the Potrero Creek (Trail A) trailhead at The Lodge parking lot. Email steve.h.edelman@gmail.com for current schedule and information. ~ Steve Edelman FOUR SEASONS BREEZE | APRIL 2019 37 Photo Top Left: Birding Lake Perris. Photo by Club member Jenny Cole. Above: Western Grebe courtship dance. Photo by Teddy Llovet, University of Washington. American White Pelican. The horn on the bill means it's time to breed! Photo by Rick Dunlap, Birdshare.

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