Character Analysis
Nigel might just be a regular pelican hanging around Sydney Harbour, but he's definitely better than those psychopathic seagulls (mine!). Plus he's actually pretty vital to the plot of this movie.
How are fish in a fish tank supposed to get any info from the harbor? They need someone who can take flight to help them out a bit.
And Nigel's just the bird to do it. He's the one who first brings word to Nemo that his dad is on his way to get him:
NIGEL: Your dad's been fighting the entire ocean looking for you.
NEMO: My father? Really?
[…]
NIGEL: Oh yeah. He's travelled hundreds of miles. He's been battling sharks and jellyfish and all sorts of—
Without this little piece of birdie wisdom, Nemo would have never tried to swim up in the filter again and clogged the tank. Thanks, Nigel.
And, of course, Nigel performs his most heroic task when he takes Marlin and Dory up to the dentist's window and flies inside to cause a commotion. Nigel's really the only one who can give these fish a lift. Clearly, he's also the only pelican in the harbor that cares enough to help them instead of eating them.
Not only is he a friend to fish and pretty knowledgeable about dental procedures, without his airborne expertise, Marlin would still be trying to find Nemo. Nigel, we salute you.