American white pelicans, with 9-foot, black-tipped wings and long orange beaks, are typically migratory birds. The birds’ numbers in the region dropped in the 19th and 20th centuries. But in recent years, they’ve been overwintering around the Columbia River, and they’ve set up at least two colonies that are now home to thousands of breeding pairs.
As the environment changes, more white pelicans find homes on the Columbia River
