Kip’s Comments - August 19, 2026
Oh What A Day! (Notice - Photo Dump!)
Lately my days have included an ample amount of excitement and today was no different. I will begin with what most might think was maybe not what they want to do.
I was made aware of a suspected injured American white pelican at a park in Cedar Falls. Wild animals do not like to be handled, and certainly not when they are injured. But to not capture it and take it to a rehabber almost certainly assures the bird of a slow, miserable death. After confirming a rehab plan it was time to capture the bird, if in fact it was injured. Close examination from the canoe showed a probable broken wing.
Having captured several pelicans in the past, I knew I would need people on the bank of the small pond to assure the bird remained on the water where I would paddle next to it and get it into a net. Who better to run the shoreline and learn about wildlife than my grandkids and their neighbor girl.
Injured American White Pelican - Image 1137489
After reviewing our capture plan I was on the water and within a few minutes the pelican was secured in a pet taxi where the young people could take a close look at the wild bird. The pelican is now in the care of Terese with Black Hawk Wildlife Rehabilitation Project.
As you can see in the pictures, the pelican did not appreciate my caring for it. It clamped its bill on my leather glove covered forearm once and tried many other times as we transferred it from the net to the pet taxi. The young folks also learned to respect wild animals.
Injured American White Pelican - Image 1137533
Injured American White Pelican - Image 1137536
Injured American White Pelican - Image 1137581
Excitement before the pelican rescue ~
Earlier in the day I enjoyed subtle excitement locally. I found many green and great blue herons, turkey vultures, flowers, and fungi - all in nice light. Many images were recorded with a sampling that follows.
Green Heron - Image 1136767
American Mint - Image 1136297
Blushing Bracket Mushroom - Image 1136303
Broadleaf Arrowhead Blossoms - image 1136348
Great Blue Heron - Image 1136594
Great Blue Heron - Image 1136602
Cardinal Flower - Image 1136412
Golden Oysters - Image 1136525
Obedient Plant - Image 1137402
Green Heron - Image 1136931
Orange Bonnet Mushrooms - Image 1137115
Orange Bonnet Mushrooms - Image 1137169
Peeling Oysterling - Image 1137216
Scalycaps - Image 1137239
Turkey Vultures - Image 1137294
Turkey Vultures - Image 1137334
Wrinkled Crust Fungi - Image 1137488
It was a good (and busy) day!
