Spring in Saskatoon finds Sandra once again combing the banks of the river for a sign of her pelican friend Pelly. There are a lot of pelicans around, but none seems to be hers. Where has she gone, and why isn't she coming back? The story's point of view alternates between Pelly's new life setting up a nest, and Sandra's hectic world of humans. She and her dad have moved from their apartment to a tiny little house of their own--a house complete with a garden and bossy neighbours on either side. Meanwhile, Sandra meets another bird lover on the river bank, a young researcher who invites her to come along to Redberry Lake, which is an hour away and boasts a combination information centre/bird research station. It's where a lot of the pelicans which feed on the river in Saskatoon actually nest, and Sandra has a hunch that's where Pelly might be. Over the course of the summer, Sandra learns that the people around her are a lot more complicated than she might imagine. She has pleasant days and more than one mishap on the tricky lake. Sandra's waiting finally pays off, as she reconnects with Pelly, who now has a nest and chicks of her own. Will they remember each other? Can their friendship ever be the same?