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Well, it's not. For one, the oceans are saltwater and the Great Lakes are freshwater. This changes the type of wildlife you find at each.
Interesting that there are seagulls at the Lakes. I've never thought of that possibility before.
Keep thinking....live a block from the lake...today 5 foot waves, but because the Lake waves aren't DILUTED with salt, they pack a punch equivalent to 8? foot saltwater effervescent waves.
Yup, and pelicans and every (?) other sea bird. I've always seen swans, so I'm pretty sure they're native as well. Side note: if you want to talk big "exotic" birds, sandhill cranes are basically everywhere in Wisconsin now, and they look like dinosaurs out in the fields.
We were just in Door County Wisconsin on the bay side and were surprised to see Pelicans. Big ones - and lots of them.
Yup, and pelicans and every (?) other sea bird. I've always seen swans, so I'm pretty sure they're native as well. Side note: if you want to talk big "exotic" birds, sandhill cranes are basically everywhere in Wisconsin now, and they look like dinosaurs out in the fields.
Pelicans? Wow, I don't think I've ever seen a pelican in this part of the Great Lakes. They must stay on the western end of the lakes region.
Pelicans? Wow, I don't think I've ever seen a pelican in this part of the Great Lakes. They must stay on the western end of the lakes region.
There are regularly seagulls and pelicans, and just about every other kind of migratory north american bird, in Kansas, which is about as far away from an ocean as you can get...
Pelicans? Wow, I don't think I've ever seen a pelican in this part of the Great Lakes. They must stay on the western end of the lakes region.
No, I'm pretty sure Pelicans are everywhere nearby larger bodies of water. I've seen them on Mille Lacs here in Minnesota, and huge flocks of them on lakes in North Dakota.
We were just in Door County Wisconsin on the bay side and were surprised to see Pelicans. Big ones - and lots of them.
They're all over the city of Green Bay, too. You don't see them (at least I don't) south of there very often, though. I grew up in Door County, and they were a rarity until a decade or so ago. They seem to prefer Green Bay to Lake Michigan (GB is part of LM, but is still a different sort of ecosystem), which is why you saw so many on the Bay side. I saw a bunch up at Newport on the Lake side a couple weeks ago, though that's just about at the tip.
Just overall, I'm seeing more large and previously rare/unusual birds in the region (the region being MN/WI/MI). Well, and big animals as well (moose, elk, bear, and the like). Conservation paying off in the region, at least until our "awesome" governor decides we'd rather have a little more short-term petroleum and lead deposits.
They're all over the city of Green Bay, too. You don't see them (at least I don't) south of there very often, though. I grew up in Door County, and they were a rarity until a decade or so ago. They seem to prefer Green Bay to Lake Michigan (GB is part of LM, but is still a different sort of ecosystem), which is why you saw so many on the Bay side. I saw a bunch up at Newport on the Lake side a couple weeks ago, though that's just about at the tip.
Just overall, I'm seeing more large and previously rare/unusual birds in the region (the region being MN/WI/MI). Well, and big animals as well (moose, elk, bear, and the like). Conservation paying off in the region, at least until our "awesome" governor decides we'd rather have a little more short-term petroleum and lead deposits.
It was our first trip to Door County and we enjoyed it. I hope to be able to explore more of it in the future.
Just overall, I'm seeing more large and previously rare/unusual birds in the region (the region being MN/WI/MI).
Oh yes, definitely. I'd never once seen bald eagles or wild turkeys in the Twin Cities area because they were largely extirpated until starting about 10 years ago. Now they're absolutely everywhere.
Really, that goes for more than just avian life; all sorts of formerly rare or nonexistent mammals are starting to show up here, too. Opossums didn't live this far north until recently, and now they're ubiquitous. Same for coyotes—they were completely nonexistent here until the last decade. Black bears were once rare, but have made it to urban areas now. There have even been mountain lion spottings.
Isn't it crazy? I've seen a couple great snowy owls in northern WI over the last year, apparently they've re-appeared in the area as well. Bald eagles used to be a "wow" moment, but now I see multiples on every trip all across the region. A tagged mountain lion was confirmed about 5 miles from a cabin I spend time in every year in northern WI. A great thing. You ever see sandhill cranes there? WI did a big restoration deal and now they are sighted commonly. I know they've started filling in places in MN and the UP as well. Impressive birds.
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Well, it's not. For one, the oceans are saltwater and the Great Lakes are freshwater. This changes the type of wildlife you find at each. 
