Duluth Park Comes To Life With Majestic Migrating Creatures

Whether you're a wildlife enthusiast, photographer, birder, or just want to see something neat that you don't get to see every day, right now is your chance at one Duluth park.

The annual migration of American white pelicans each spring leads to a colony of them landing at one particular Duluth area city park to make a temporary home there for a few weeks before they continue their journey north toward Canada.

These birds are pretty huge. They have a wingspan that can reach from 6 to 9 feet in length, which makes them among the largest birds seen in the Minnesota sky.

For those who await this springtime migration, they've just recently shown up on their 2025 trip north, so now is the time to go see them before they depart!

If you're new to the pelicans and their Duluth pitstop, here's what you need to know if you want to go see them.

Where are the pelicans in Duluth coming from? Where are they going?

American white pelicans spend their winter in Mexico and the southeastern part of the United States. Each spring, they head north to Canada. On their journey, a colony of these massive birds makes a temporary home in a Duluth park space, specifically on the St. Louis River in the park area.

Where do these pelicans hang out in Duluth while they're here?

A sizable group of pelicans takes up residence each spring on the St. Louis River in the Chambers Grove Park area in the Fond du Lac neighborhood of Duluth.

While you might see pelicans in the sky or hanging out on other nearby waterways, this tends to be a consistently popular stop for the flock to rest up and feed for a few weeks before they continue north.

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They tend to hang out around the islands in the middle of the St. Louis River near Chambers Grove Park, perched up on rocks or along the island shoreline.

The birds do move around the area a fair amount. Sometimes you'll be able to see them fairly close to shore from the park, either on the larger island, floating down the river, or flying above. Another popular spot tends to be on the smaller island further west (circled in red above).

If you have some binoculars or a camera with a longer/zoom lens, I'd recommend bringing them in the event they're on the far bank or island from the park.

How long are the pelicans in Duluth?

As the Minnesota DNR points out, "Pelicans don’t adhere to a strict schedule". This means that knowing when they will arrive each spring is difficult to predict. It also means knowing how long they will be around is hard to judge. They generally arrive in mid-to-late April.

As best as I have been able to determine (from a few recent trips down to the park), they just recently arrived in the last few days. The DNR says they will usually stick around for about a month before they move along.

Following that timeline, you probably have until mid-May this year to see them.

Pelican viewing and photography tips

Prepare to view these pelicans from a bit of a distance. While I've seen them pretty close to the Chambers Grove Park shoreline trail, they often keep a bit of distance, staying on the island or the far bank.

Bring binoculars or a spotting scope to be able to get a better view. If you're planning to take photos, you'll want a camera with good zoom or a longer lens.

If you want to take it seriously, I'd plan on just hanging out for a while to watch as birds come and go. There are a few benches to sit on, but bringing a folding chair may be helpful if you want to "camp out" for a bit.

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My best experience seeing birds has been in the morning, but there are often pelicans around throughout the day.

Most importantly, be respectful of these birds and give them their space if they do end up coming closer. Also, be sure to be respectful of the space and other people, too