Rarely do you want to photograph a bird butt on purpose. We get enough without trying.

Yet for a White Pelican take off it’s not a bad angle. You can see how hard they work.

They take off on a run, they usually have to get momentum. They are the tallest, second heaviest and a wing span that is close to the widest, in North America. Basically they need a runway to fly.

They run.

And run.

And keep running.

Finally with much flapping the get airborne.

Look at the series above and you can see he keeps getting closer and closer to reeds.

Once in the air they are magical and can fly to great heights.

That may be because landing isn’t any easier than take off.

White Pelican in ACE Basin.