I went pelican banding (also banded ring-billed gulls and cormorants) at Lac Qui Parle with a group from St Cloud and MN DNR. In the past I have insisted that vulture vomit is the stinkiest thing on the planet, but after taking my third shower and still have a hint of pelican vomit on my finger tips, my opinion has changed.
We found the following nests or chicks: white pelicans double-crested cormorants ring-billed gulls black-crowned night herons great egrets gadwall Forster's tern On one of the islands we did find a Hudsonian godwit that appeared to be scolding us as if a nest were nearby but we were unable to locate a nest or chicks. Other birds seen include: yellow-headed blackbirds western grebes Franklin's gulls I also have a new respect for cormorants. They always looked a little goofy out in the field sunning and fishing, however trying to place a leg band on one of these guys without losing an eye is a challenge--they are aggressive little suckers. Sharon Stiteler Uptown, Minneapolis
