Larger Birds at Frank Lake, Alberta

Frank Lake, located 50 km south-east of Calgary, is a productive wetland important to hundreds of birds species. Once completely dry, this wetland has been saved from drainage and drought through a partnership between industry, government and Ducks Unlimited.

https://www.ducks.ca/places/alberta/frank-lake/

Approximately 125 American White Pelicans put on a show for us as they circled and landed nearby. These Pelicans will cooperate when feeding. Sometimes, large groups gather in wetlands. They coordinate their swimming to drive schooling fish toward the shallows where they can be corralled easily and scooped from the water. I found it interesting to learn that American White Pelican embryos squawk before hatching to express discomfort if conditions get too hot or cold! 

https://www.allaboutbirds.org/guide/American_White_Pelican/overview

We found a total of 7 Marbled Godwit at Frank Lake. They breed in shortgrass prairies near wetlands and will avoid areas with taller vegetation. The body is about the size of an American Crow, with a very long bill. Aquatic invertebrates, earthworms, insects, aquatic plant tubers, leeches and small fish are some of their favoured foods. They will probe soft mud and sand with their long bill, often entirely submerging the head. 
https://www.allaboutbirds.org/guide/Marbled_Godwit/lifehistory

Black-necked Stilts have the second-longest legs in proportion to their bodies of any bird, exceeded only by flamingos!  They sometimes participate in a "popcorn display" which involves a group of birds gathering around a ground predator and jumping, hopping, or flapping to drive it away from their nests!

https://www.allaboutbirds.org/guide/Black-necked_Stilt/id

Marbled Godwit and Black-necked Stilt for size comparison.

American Avocet hunting for food. Their diet consists of beetles, water boatmen, midges, brine flies, fairy shrimp, and water fleas.

https://www.allaboutbirds.org/guide/American_Avocet/lifehistory#food