I was up at Homosassa Springs State Wildlife Park at the end of January and noticed the pelicans were getting frisky. It was warm the day I was there but we still had some cold weather to get through. Injured pelicans live at the park (most are missing a wing) and are free to nest and raise their babies. Then the babies are able to fly free when they grow up.
A few of the residents showing me their missing wings.
It was funny to watch all of the couples flirting and getting the nests ready.
It’s also funny to watch them stretching their pouches.
Chilling, this one looks like he’s got his breeding feathers in with that pretty yellow head.
There are also a few white pelicans that live there but I’ve never seen them nest, Maybe they nest closer to the middle of the summer.