On the same day the Los Angeles Lakers host the New Orleans Pelicans at Crypto.com Arena in downtown Los Angeles, there was an actual pelican spotted at another sporting event in Southern California.
A collegiate baseball matchup between Loyola Marymount and UC Santa Barbara was briefly delayed after a long-beaked, waterbird crashed into the safety net behind home plate.
The score was tied at 1 during the top of the fourth inning at the time of the stoppage.
The net, which is supposed to protect spectators from being hit by foul balls or flying bats, this time, happened to protect fans from an enlarged bird wandering its way through the sunny Southern California skies.
The pelican appeared to have had its beak and talons caught in the baseball net before fans in the crowd helped to free the bird.
The Lions’ baseball team seemed to have a nice chuckle as their baseball coach made attempts to shoo the bird away once it was on the ground.
The pelican stood its ground and didn’t nudge, but it was eventually escorted off the diamond.
Santa Barbara would go on to take a 4-1 lead in the top of the seventh inning.
Can you find a pelican in Los Angeles?
If you’re referring to the NBA organization out of New Orleans, then yes. You can find a Pelican in Los Angeles Tuesday night as New Orleans takes on the Lakers at 7:30 p.m. PT.
However, the actual aquatic bird can also be found in California, including the southern part of the state. According to the National Park Service, California brown pelicans are permanent residents of the coastal marine environment on the Pacific Coast.
The campus of UC Santa Barbara is within walking or biking distance of the beach.
These birds can be found on rocky, sandy or vegetated offshore islands, beaches, open sea (for feeding), harbors, marinas, estuaries, and breakwaters.