Pelican-Duckling nightmare - Part 1 This photographer chronicles the lives of New York City hawks and other urban wildlife.

You can see many more photos in this pelican/duckling series here:
www.gogginphotography.com/2026/04/peli...

Two American White Pelicans toss around a Muscovy Duck duckling. One pelican eyes the duckling as it's tossed in the air while the second pelican waits below with its maw wide open.

I caught this scene a few weeks ago when American White Pelicans tossed around a Muscovy Duck duckling in a local lake. The little guy ended up ok, but I nearly had a stroke watching it play out. 🪶

An American Robin gathers muddy nesting material from the edge of a pond.

I saw this American Robin today gathering nesting material from the edge of a pond. It picked up pieces of grass and leaves, then dragged them through the mud to form a sticky mass. 🪶

An American White Pelican flies across a blue sky. It is white, with black wingtips and a yellow-orange bill with a breeding "hump" on top.

I spent a few weeks this last winter with American White Pelicans in Florida and had a blast. They are so huge and elegant as they fly. I took a bazillion photos. 🪶

🪶 Sharing with the bird feed. NYC peeps take note.

Stunning capture!

The weekend is close, yet so far... 🪶
#Raptors

Iris Returns To Hellgate Osprey Nest In Missoula, Montana! | April 6, 2026 YouTube video by Cornell Lab Bird Cams

Sharing some GOOD NEWS! Iris the Osprey has returned to her Montana nest. She's around 30 years old, making her one of the oldest known ospreys in the world. You can watch her on the live Cornell Osprey cam. 🪶
youtu.be/xM_3aiCH4hM?...

A Blue Jay perches on a bare branch. The bright color of the bird stands out against a drab background.

The Blue Jay has to be one of North America's most beautiful birds. The pattern on their tail and wings reminds me of stained glass. 🪶

An adult female red-tailed hawk named Amelia soars in the late afternoon light. She presides over her territory in NYC.

Today's hawk: Our local resident female Red-Tailed Hawk named Amelia (after Amelia Earhart), demonstrates her soaring power. 🪶
#Raptors

New sign: Welcome to Manhattan: Hello, gorgeous! (street sign)

This is kinda fab! (And no, it's not AI.)

Good point!

That's what I was thinking. Now I'm wondering where they could have been to get coated in something.

Two unusually dark Canada geese seen with "normal" geese as well as Brants.

Two unusually dark Canada geese seen with "normal" geese as well as Brants.

Geese Experts: I've never seen Canada Geese dark like this. Is this unusual? They were seen a few days ago in NYC. 🪶
#CanadaGeese

A juvenile Red-Tailed Hawk perches on a fence and looks at the camera.

Over the weekend I passed the 3,000th day of my current eBird streak. That's 8+ years observing birds each day! I'm not a "lister" but I set out to make time each day to connect with nature no matter where I am. It gives me a goal and something to look forward to each day. 🪶💚

More hummingbirds please! ☺️

A male Red-Tailed Hawk makes a move on his mate who is perched on a branch.

A male Red-Tailed Hawk flies up behind his mate who is perched in a tree.

Red-Tailed Hawks, Charlie and Amelia, flap their wings while perched in a tree.

Red-Tailed Hawks, Charlie and Amelia, perch in a tree in NYC.

Today's Hawk: This is our resident Red-Tailed Hawk pair, Charlie & Amelia. They have been putting on mating displays in the local park as they embark on this year's breeding season. 🪶 #Raptors

Sauces Canyon Eagles🦅Audacity Lays SIXTH Egg 🥚🥚🥚🥚🥚🥚 Keeping Hope Alive🐣 explore.org | 2026 Mar 16 YouTube video by SK Hideaways

At #SaucesCanyon, the amazing 20-year-old #Audacity has laid her SIXTH egg of the season. Continuing to send positive thoughts for a hatch.

Courtesy Institute for Wildlife Studies | explore.org | Sauces Canyon Eagles Cam Ops
Nest Cam: www.youtube.com/watch?v=rnTs...
#raptors #birds #baldeagles

A soft-looking Barn Owl looks towards the camera. Its face is white and its eyes look like black marbles.

For today's #BirdOfTheDay theme, one of the options is #HeadShots
For this, I present a Barn Owl looking soft and cuddly. 🪶🦉

A Barred Owl perches in a plane tree. Its brown and white feathers are fluffed up.

We need more Friday Floofs. Here is a Barred Owl fluffing its stuff. 🪶🦉

A Muscovy Duck duckling gets tossed around by five American White Pelicans. The little duckling has its wings and feet splayed out, and a terrified look on its face.

A Muscovy Duck duckling looks terrified as it's tossed into/out of the giant maw of a pelican. The little guy ended up OK.

So this happened the other day. I saw several American White Pelicans catch and toss around a Muscovy Duck duckling. I thought they wanted to eat it, but they seemed more curious and all took turns holding it in their mouths and toying with it. The little guy got away and reunited with its mom. 🪶

Sunset over Tampa Bay with a woman on a paddle boat in the foreground. The sky is pink and is reflected in the water.

Hoping everyone has a calm and rejuvenating weekend.
#sunset

I'm amazed the duckling appeared to be (physically) unhurt after all that.

I observed another such incident a couple of days later. For the Pelican experts out there: is this something they do? Are they just investigating with their bills and mean no harm? It's a terrifying nightmare for the ducks. I plan to post more photos from this series.

A Muscovy Duck duckling gets tossed around by five American White Pelicans. The little duckling has its wings and feet splayed out, and a terrified look on its face.

A Muscovy Duck duckling looks terrified as it's tossed into/out of the giant maw of a pelican. The little guy ended up OK.

So this happened the other day. I saw several American White Pelicans catch and toss around a Muscovy Duck duckling. I thought they wanted to eat it, but they seemed more curious and all took turns holding it in their mouths and toying with it. The little guy got away and reunited with its mom. 🪶

They don't look real in person either 😅

A Red-Tailed Hawk grasps a pigeon in his talons while standing in snow.

Our local male Red-Tailed Hawk nabbed a hot meal of pigeon on this cold snowy day. 🪶
#Raptors

A male and female goose couple raise their bodies out of the water and flap there wings to shake off the water after taking their morning baths just as the sun was rising.

I know some look down or dismiss photos of common birds, but I always enjoy photos of geese in the early morning just as the sun is coming up and they are starting their day. This couple swam towards me this morning and I was able to get quite a few different photos.

#birds #birdphotography #nature

Paper hearts decorate a light pole.

3 paper hearts stuck to the back of a van.

Red paper hearts stuck to the entrance of a house.

Paper hearts stuck to a fence in front of a house.

Apparently it's a Valentines Day tradition in St Pete FL to plaster the entire neighborhood with red paper hearts. Every car, street sign and house is covered. Spread the love! ❤️

The St Pete Pier at sunset with a flock of shorebirds in the foreground.

Sunset with Black Skimmers, Willets, Marbled Godwits, Dowitchers, and Laughing Gulls. 🪶
St Petersburg, FL.