Calgary photographer bonds with injured pelican enduring Alberta winters

An injured pelican has been forced to stay in Alberta for three winters, and a Calgary photographer has formed a special bond with her.

Bird watchers are always on the lookout for a rare sighting, and one Calgary man has found an unusual bird with a unique story.

John Reasbeck has taken many photos of an American White Pelican who lives at Frank Lake, just south of Calgary.

Elsa the pelican waddles into Frank Lake south of Calgary. (Photo courtesy of John Reasbeck)

The species isn’t supposed to endure winters in the province, but an injured wing has forced her to endure three so far.

The bird has now been fondly named Elsa by the bird community, after the movie “Frozen,” because of her strong will to survive our cold.

“I heard in November that there was a lone pelican again. So I went to Frank Lake. I took a couple of good pictures of Elsa flying … even though she couldn’t fly far. Not too bad, but not enough so she could fly presumably, although, who knows what a pelican thinks?” said Reasbeck amid laughs.

According to the Alberta Institute for Wildlife Conservation, the species migrates to the Pacific or Mexico in the winter.

Reasbeck says he is intrigued by her strength and travels to see her often.

“I wanted to see how a Pelican can survive in winter conditions, and one thing lead to another, and I started doing this every three or four days throughout the winter,” he said.

One notable photo he’s taken appears to capture Elsa practicing yoga.

Elsa the pelican poses in what looks like a yoga pose on Frank Lake south of Calgary. (Photo courtesy of John Reasbeck)

“She was stretching her bad wing — her right wing — and the leg on that side, and I know she stretches from time to time because she’s trying to maintain balance, just like yoga people,” Reasbeck said.

With his regular venturing to spot Elsa, the Alberta Birds Community, with tens of thousands of people, relies on his updates. And because he visits her so much – he’s built a bit of a bond.

“When I go out there, she’ll be watching something and I’ll be on the shore … and she’ll turn her head so I can see both eyes and she has binocular vision, and I wonder whether she recognizes me, certainly she doesn’t mind that I’m there,” he said.

“She’s just my superhero.”

Reasbeck got his first camera at the age of 15, but a gift from his wife two decades ago brought his passion to another level.

“The camera was too expensive so I put it down. But Cathy saw it and thought that I would like to have it, and she was right, and she bought it for me,”

Reasbeck raised $1,400 for Ducks Unlimited Canada, which oversees Frank Lake, by selling calendars featuring Elsa. It’s all given him a gladly welcomed purpose in retired life.

Elsa the pelican tucks her body in ball to keep warm at Frank Lake south of Calgary. (Photo courtesy of John Reasbeck)