We have this thing for pelicans - and have a collection of photos we have taken of this silly bird. Will be traveling to area between West Palm Beach and FLL in mid-February. Any good pelican sighting places.

In Ft. Lauderdale there are lots of Pelicans at the 15th St. Fisheries.There is a dock area in the back of the restaurant overlooking the intercoastal, and we have many photos of the pelicans that gather there. This is also one of the stops on the water taxi route.

I have a thing for pelicans also; what a magnificent bird!

The best place to see them is hunting over the water. They also will hang out on the water and float.

As jd said, marinas, restaurants on the water (Singer Island), and fisheries. There is one particular pelican (I have photo of him) that hangs out on one of the piers between FLL and WPB. Let me do a little digging and see if I can find out which pier.

Actually, you'll see them off any pier. Can you take AIA to FLL or are you under time constraints?

Thanks to both - we will be in Florida for 4 days, flying into FLL, staying in Boca (not near beach, though) and visiting brother near WPB. We have a photo of a pelican on a pier that let my daughter touch him and feed him fish from her hand - while I have very mixed feelings about a wild bird becoming that accustomed to humans, it is a great photo.

There is also some place near an inlet to Intercoastal where at dusk you can see hundreds of pelicans roosting in trees - can't remember where that was either, but I am sure it happens in more than one place.

Gail, that is such a rarity I wouldn't worry about it. Chances are that pelican is an old bird who is spoiled rotten and too lazy to hunt for fish.

While I'm not a fan of wild animals losing their fear of humans, it happens with some birds.

We stay at a place in Islamorada, The Pines and Palms who has a resident Pelican California who is a thief. They bring grills to your apartment/cottage at night if you want to cook your fresh catch. The management warned us about California but sure enough we turned our backs on California after a few too many beers one evening (watching the sunset) and he stole our dinner off the grill!!!

We learned our lessen and ended up eating at the Lorelei that night.

Gotravel, very funny story ! I love pelicans too Did any of you see the white pelicans? It is the largest bird in the US. It migrates to FL from up north.

The folks at the restaurant Fifteenth Street Fisheries in Fort Lauderdale feed the pelicans and tarpon every nite about 5 PM

Oh my, I love seeing the pelicans fly over in their formations!
We see them every time we go to Ponte Vedra beach, squadrons of pelicans patrolling the beaches

Love that story, GT. Had me laughing my gut out. I can just picture the whole scenario.
-Too funny....

We have stayed in Lauderdale by the Sea twice in 2004, and the fishing pier there is undergoing repairs, so was shut off to humans. Well, the pelicans owned it both times we were there and we always had great sightings of them near that pier. Don't think the pier was open in Dec. when my parents were there.

I'm afraid that I would have to agree w/ Gail and suggest photographing pelicans that roost in trees at sundown- why it's not uncommon at all! It seems that any beach with some Australian pines will certainly have numerous pelicans roosting in it any night. It's a perfect photo opportunity for a pelican fan! Maybe arrive in time to catch that sunset-slow-hunting-cruise over the water where a flock of pelicans looks like a squadron of B-52 bombers steathily crusing over the surface of the Gulf. Oh so beautiful...

melshells, I didn't realize Pelicans roosted in trees at night. I always thought they were too large. I know Herons and Egrets roost in the tops of live Oaks.

We have quite a bit of protected wildlife refuge and an isolated island for all birds. That seems to be where the Pelicans hang out. Since you cannot get close to the island (Federal offense), I cannot get close enough to seem them or if they roost in trees. Interesting.

Judy, I haven't seen the white Pelicans! Are they all white? What area are they indiginous to?

We saw white pelicans up in Yellowstone in June,,,after seeing them in Sanibelin Jan! They are huge and mostly white,,,,quite a sight!

I had no idea pelicans could roost in trees either - and did not realize that that is what they were until an entire tree shed its pelicans and off they flew.