Ted and I went on the same guided boat adventure as last year to see the juvenile Pelicans at Bird Key Stono Seabird Sanctuary. This trip was much earlier in the young birds’ lives as they are still in the nests.
Brown Pelicans on Nests, Bird Key Stono
These pictures are taken from a bobbing boat; I did learn from last year and upped my shutter speed to 1/1600.
Brown Pelicans on Nests, Bird Key Stono
There are thousands of birds on this island right now, and as you might expect there were always some in flight. The parents have to go for food, and swoop in and out constantly.
Brown Pelicans on Nests, Bird Key Stono, Maybe a Cloudless Sulfer flying over
The chicks are still in the nests, which are collections of sticks/reeds, with the young being protected by an adult from the sun. As you can see in the center top a few are starting to move around.
Brown Pelicans on Nests, Bird Key Stono, Dragonflies
Laughing Gulls are also nesting here and were flying all over, constantly chattering.
Brown Pelicans on Nests, Bird Key Stono
June 1, 2022
Bird Key, not much more than a sandbar, is a barrier island that sits in the mouth of the Stono River, between Kiawah and Folly Islands.
Bulls Island is an uninhabited 5000 acre barrier island off the coast of South Carolina with multiple ecosystems including maritime forest, fresh and brackish water impoundments and salt marsh.
There was a lot going on at Bird Key and it was hard to focus on just one bird. The boat was moving, many of the birds were moving and every which way, the water was moving…you get the idea.
Brown Pelicans
I did follow this one Pelican flying along the shore, hoping to see him land.
Brown Pelicans
He flew over another Pelican frolicking in the surf and past some Laughing Gulls.
Brown Pelicans
The Pelican in the water started flapping like he was going to take off.
Brown Pelicans
I’m not sure now if this was the flying bird settling into the water, or the flapper who just sunk back down for some more spa treatment from the surf.
Brown Pelicans
Taken from a boat at Bird Key Stono Heritage Preserve
Between Kiawah Island and Folly Beach, SC
Hundreds of birds nested on Bird Key this summer and the land and sky were full of activity on this July day.
Bird Key Stono Heritage Preserve
Most of the birds on land seen here are Brown Pelicans, the smaller white ones are chicks. The chicks were awkwardly walking, but not yet flying.  There were lots of Laughing Gulls that provided constant noise, and a few White Ibis mixed in.
Bird Key Stono Heritage Preserve
On the outer edge of the island, the open Atlantic Ocean beyond, a sand bar has formed that was popular spot for preening.
Bird Key Stono Heritage Preserve
Taken from a boat at Bird Key Stono Heritage Preserve
Between Kiawah Island and Folly Beach, SC
These are a few more images of Brown Pelicans chicks showing the chicks interacting, very awkwardly.
Brown Pelican Adult and Two Chicks
Adult Brown Pelicans are somewhat awkward on land, and if you notice the feet you can see why.
Brown Pelican Adult and Two Chicks
As previously mentioned, I regret I didn’t use a higher shutter speed to offset some of the bobbing boat motion. The images are over-sharpened somewhat to try to make up for that, but I wanted to share them for the seldom seen chick behavior.
Taken from a boat at Bird Key Stono Heritage Preserve
Between Kiawah Island and Folly Beach, SC
Ted and I went on a guided boat adventure today that included watching juvenile Pelicans at Bird Key Stono Seabird Sanctuary, a significant nesting habitat for seabirds and shorebirds.
Two Brown Pelican Chicks Getting Fed By Parent
Taking pictures from a bobbing boat is a challenge and I regret I didn’t use a higher shutter speed. The chicks are very awkward walkers and not yet flying
Two Brown Pelican Chicks Getting Fed By Parent
Brown Pelican chicks feed a lot like the herons, with the young reaching down into the adult’s throat to get food, not the mouth pouch which is used to catch food.
Two Brown Pelican Chicks Getting Fed By Parent
Bird Key, not much more than a sandbar, is a barrier island that sits in the mouth of the Stono River, between Kiawah and Folly Islands.