A pair of pelicans \u2014 Joey and Felicity \u2014 flew the coop at the Pittsburgh Zoo and Aquarium on Saturday, but both were safely returned to the zoo.<\/p>\n
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.<\/p>\n
At 5:30 p.m., the zoo announced that Felicity was also safely back at the zoo.<\/p>\n
They had no injuries, the spokesman wrote.<\/p>\n
The zoo had set up a \u201cpelican hotline,\u201d advising residents to call to share any sightings of the water birds. The zoo expressed gratitude for the community\u2019s support during the event.<\/p>\n
Callers were advised not to attempt to approach the pelicans.<\/p>\n
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.<\/p>\n
The birds have permanent wing injuries that left them unable to hunt, the zoo said. But that didn\u2019t stop Felicity and Joey from exploring the neighborhoods around the zoo.<\/p>\n
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.<\/p>\n
The brown pelicans \u2014 not native to Western Pennsylvania \u2014 are recognizable by their gular pouch, \u201ca thick layer of skin located on the lower mandible and connected to the throat,\u201d which the birds use to scoop fish from the water.<\/p>\n
\u201cOur teams continue to appreciate the support of the community during today\u2019s event and welcome ongoing sighting reports,\u201d the spokesman wrote. <\/p>\n
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