White Pelicans Riding Thermals
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Have you ever seen birds fly in a spiral, going higher and higher? They have discovered a weather phenomenon known as thermals.
A couple weeks ago, I was lucky to notice White Pelicans riding thermals for several days above Everglades City.
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White Pelicans and single Anhinga (far right) riding a thermal
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Thermals are updrafts of warm air that rise from the ground into the sky. Birds will fly in a circular path within these columns of rising air and “ride” the currents to climb to higher altitudes while expending very little energy in the process.
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White Pelicans riding a thermal
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Some thermals may only last for a few seconds, others can last up to 10-20 minutes. As thermals rise, they cool, eventually reaching the same temperature as the surrounding air. Suddenly the thermal dissipates, and you’ll see the birds lose their momentum and form of flight.
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White Pelicans riding a thermal
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Each day that I saw them, it was in the afternoon.
Some close-ups….
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White Pelicans riding a thermal
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White Pelicans riding a thermal
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Watching these huge birds gracefully spiral up high in the sky was such a delight!
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They do make it look easy don’t they.
The fascination of such big almost ungainly birds, yet once in the air, they are suvh masters.
Beaut series
Thank you, David! I only shared the one shot with the Anhinga in the thermal too, showing size comparison. One day, there were vultures and a wood stork trying to ride the thermal too, just outside the flock of pelicans’ spiral but still trying to stay in the current. 🙂
Great photos and explanation Donna. The parascenders in our valley take advantage of the thermals or updrafts too. You often see them hugging the side of the valley to maintain their height.
Thank you, Mike! It was thermals/updrafts that the Wright Brothers discovered and used to get their ‘planes’ up in the air too. I couldn’t parascend/hang glide, I’d be too scared! I’ll stick with my gators…. hehe
I did a tandem ‘ride’ parascending once over Montreux. We went right out over the lake (Geneva/Lac Leman) which was a bit scary when you looked down. The guy then decided to do a ‘twirl’ without telling me and my stomach felt like it dropped about 4 or 5 inches with the G forces. We dropped like a stone apparently, but we soon landed safely in a field. I’m tempted to have another go around here as the views and photos should be amazing.
Wowza, Mike! I do bet your images would be amazing if you went again!!
I have heard of birds riding thermals, but your marvelous photos illustrate them so very well.
Thanks Hien! I wish I could have illustrated even more in photos, to see it in person is spectacular!
Nice shots. A lot of birds ride thermals, also during migration, to save energie. I often observe birds of prey doing so in the afternoon.
Thanks! Yes, if it weren’t for thermals, birds could not make the long distances they make during migration! I’ve seen vultures, hawks and wood storks doing it too. It is pretty cool!
Very nice series of images Donna! Enjoyed seeing them!
Thank you, Reed!
Wow! They are so beautiful!! 🥰
They are! Thanks Lisa!!
Wow….wonderful pictures and a new information, Donna!!
Thank you, Indira!!
Wonderful photos, and great examples of riding a thermal! I witnessed the same thing with a group of white pelicans a few years ago at Flamingo, in the Everglades. I also see it daily as I look at the black and turkey vultures flying over our cove. I am always on the lookout for a stray bald eagle in the group, which only infrequently happens.
Thanks Susan! Vultures do it here all the time too, and I’ve seen a couple Wood Storks and hawks join in. 🙂
How fascinating! This is the first time I have ever heard of such a phenomenon. Thanks for the learning moment and great photos!
Thank you! The actual scenes watching them was such a graceful delight!
It must have been a powerful sight, I have only seen birds of prey go up in a thermal.
What a sight indeed! To see those large birds staying in form, spiraling up was so cool. When the thermal would fall apart, they’d fall out of form haphazardly. Then they’d try to reform and find a thermal again. I’ve seen vultures, wood storks, and birds of prey (even Ospreys!) ride them.
How cool! I’ve seen a couple of birds at a time riding the thermals to see this many would be really delightful.
Great images and sighting, Donna.
Thanks Deborah! I’ve seen one or a few birds ride thermals many times over the years, but the White Pelican flock was a sight to behold, they’re whiteness against the blue sky. 🙂
😀 Yes, it’s pretty amazing.
Oh, my! Those are beautiful. Those dark feathers really stand out. 😊
Thank you, Irene! It was a gorgeous sighting each day. Since we ‘cooled’ down in temps, I’ve not seen any thermal riders. Hopefully soon again!
How lucky to witness and then share! Thank you, Donna 😊
Thanks Belinda, I am glad you enjoyed this delight! 😊
Thermal soaring is most enjoyable to these birds, it is like playtime to them. Lovely capture Donna.
It truly did look like it was a joy for them, it made me happy to see them happy! Thanks Ashley!
I have seen buzzards doing this but I would dearly love to see pelicans in action. Thank you for the pictures.
I am glad you enjoyed these, Tom, it was a delight to behold!
I can believe that.
Fantastic shots, Donna. Were you laying on your back while shooting? 🙂
How’d you know, HJ?? hehe Actually the first day I saw them, I was laying in my lounge chair in our campsite, and looked up. Yes, my camera was laying on the table beside me. But out of the chair i came!! 😁 I didn’t want to miss watching it and the first photo was from that first thermal sighting.
Wow, do you think they do it for a reason, or just for fun? It must be restful, not having to flap. 😉
It is restful for them, and I do believe birds love soaring. 😊
Beautiful. They are graceful, amazing to watch.
It was spectacular! Thanks, Jane!
What a beautiful sight to see! I wonder if the Anhinga noticed he was in the wrong crowd? 🙂 I think I will pay more attention to the birds in the air next summer, to see if I can notice them riding thermals. Thanks for the explanation and these lovely illustrations.
The Anhinga was amazed at the spectacular sight and wanted to ride along! 😉 Watch for vultures and birds of prey doing it. Sometimes it might be just one bird!
This is a beautiful set … the light is perfect. And fantastic how the wings are outstretched in unison!
Thank you, Denise, it was an amazing sight each time. I’m watching out for more soon as we ‘warm’ up again next week.