The American White Pelicans are also summer inhabitants on New Tern Island and are one of 14 breeding colonies in Saskatchewan. These birds are large and white in colour with black wing tips and huge yellow beaks. The pelican's wing span is nearly 10 feet making it one of the largest bird species in North America. Pelicans usually wait until they are 3 years of age to begin nesting. They breed from June to August and lay 2 or 3 eggs.
Pelicans maintain their population when the colonies are protected.
However, these birds are sensitive to disturbances. When the parents are scared away from the nest, the young may be exposed to the sun causing sunstroke leading to death. Regular disturbances can lead to permanent absence from the island. For this reason people are prohibited from going within 100 meters of the island. The Redberry Lake Migratory Bird Sanctuary also has the largest known concentration of breeding White-winged Scoters in North America.