A pair of pelicans — Joey and Felicity — flew the coop at the Pittsburgh Zoo and Aquarium on Saturday, but both were safely returned to the zoo.
Joey was rescued first from the Allegheny River near Sharpsburg, a zoo spokesman announced after 4 p.m. He was being returned to the zoo for a health check, a zoo spokesman said.
At 5:30 p.m., the zoo announced that Felicity was also safely back at the zoo.
They had no injuries, the spokesman wrote.
The zoo had set up a “pelican hotline,” advising residents to call to share any sightings of the water birds. The zoo expressed gratitude for the community’s support during the event.
Callers were advised not to attempt to approach the pelicans.
The zoo added three brown pelicans to its Kids Kingdom last July from Seacoast Seabird Sanctuary in Indian Shores, Fla., according to a past statement. They included Felicity, a female, and males Joey and Pierre.
The birds have permanent wing injuries that left them unable to hunt, the zoo said. But that didn’t stop Felicity and Joey from exploring the neighborhoods around the zoo.
One person called to report a pelican spotted beneath the Highland Park Bridge, but first responders found no such bird, according to Allegheny County 911 dispatchers.
The brown pelicans — not native to Western Pennsylvania — are recognizable by their gular pouch, “a thick layer of skin located on the lower mandible and connected to the throat,” which the birds use to scoop fish from the water.
“Our teams continue to appreciate the support of the community during today’s event and welcome ongoing sighting reports,” the spokesman wrote.