February 9, 2022
Spring is among us! Right around this time of year in La Jolla, pelicans and cormorants begin displaying vibrant shades of reds and blues on their throats in preparation for the breeding season. As if this wasn’t enough of a treat to witness, courtship displays, nest building, and egg incubation follow over the next few months. The opportunity to view this beautiful cycle of animal behavior is nothing short of a treasure.
Brown Pelicans are one of two pelican species in North America, the other being the American White Pelican. Brown Pelicans are found along coasts in the United States, Mexico, and northern South America, but typically only breed south of Southern California and Virginia into Central and South America. Pacific Coast birds develop red throat pouches, while those on the Atlantic Coast’s turn chocolate brown. All breeding adults, irrespective of coast, eventually develop brown napes and cherry-red bill highlights.
These pelicans’ electric colors will fade when the breeding season concludes, making this time of year even more sacred.
A note on La Jolla Cove:
This location provides rocky coastal habitat that so many seabirds favor. There’s no wrong place to birdwatch here… simply set off on foot and head towards the water.
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Gone Birdin' 