Do pelicans exist in the middle of North America, specifically the great lakes specifically the chicago area?

Question

Do pelicans exist in the middle of North America, specifically the great lakes specifically the chicago area?

Answer 1

Yes pelicans live in the middle of North America, specifically White Pelicans. White Pelicans are migratory birds that breed inland on large freshwater lakes and winter on the coasts. In the past five years they have expanded their territory and moved into the Great Lakes in small numbers. You can read about them on a Canadian environmental website http://www.on.ec.gc.ca/success-stories/g... that discusses the success story of the White Pelicans breeding in small numbers in the Upper Peninsula of the Great Lakes. I don't know if they are in the Chicago area yet, although I don't see why they wouldn't be. Thirty years ago in Minnesota I never saw any pelicans. Now I see them on every fairly large lake every summer. They also fly over head in groups of about 20. These are huge white birds with a wingspan of 8 feet and black feathers on the undersides of their wings. They are a very impressive sight as they fly overhead in V formation.

Answer 2

Don't live in Chicago, but do live in the north woods of Wisconsin.  

Pelicans have been seen in this area.  Why, I'm not sure.  However, many song birds that you only see in the southern part of the state are now moving further north.  This has nothing to do with migration.  

When I did live in the southern part of the state, we would see cardinal all the time.  They nested in our back yard.  Really miss seeing them up in the north woods.  People up here report seeing them.  I'm still waiting to see one on any number of our bird feeders.  Have heard them, but have not seen them.

Don't know full history on pelicans or the different species, but now might be a good time to learn.  It's not that there are flocks of pelicans, but people do spot them from time to time.  Who knows, maybe they lost there way.

Answer 3

I think what your talking about isn't a pelican they are cranes . They have long legs and a long neck  and a big wing span. You usually see them in ponds or swamps