Brown Pelican Rookery in New Smyrna

Right beside New Smyrna, Florida there is a tiny Mangrove Island. For some unknown reason, this tiny Island is a Rookery for Brown Pelicans and Cormorants. When I was beside the Island, I noticed this large Mature Brown Pelican fending off his high perch against the other immature birds.

Brown Pelicans and Cormorants on the small island rookery.

Although I never considered myself much of a “bird photographer,” I find myself taking a lot of photos of the birds around the Indian River Lagoon. The Pelicans, Snowy Egrets, White Egrets, and the Ibis are always fun to watch and amazing hunters.

Because people feed these birds; which is always a bad idea, a lot of them have little to no fear of humans and can often be found around the docks bumming for bait and food.

I have had a Pelican stalk me for an entire day. I had a sneaky Cormorant sit on my foot while I was reeling in a fish and I have had my cast net attacked by Egrets while I was trying to get a school of mullet out.

Because of this, there is never any lack of birds to get photos of.

A White Egret waiting for baitfish.