Pelicans, once an unusual site in northwest Alabama, have started to show up in greater numbers.
Floyd Sherrod, president of the Shoals Audubon Society, recalls a time about 30 years ago when a single pelican was spotted in the area and residents flocked to see it.
Now, he said, they've become increasingly common.
The TimesDaily reports that fishermen and bird watchers said several of the long-billed birds are frequently seen on the Tennessee River, particularly below Wilson Dam.