Two Pittsburgh Zoo Pelicans Caught a Gust, Flew the Coop and Went Down to the River

PITTSBURGH, Oct. 23, 2026 — Two brown pelicans at the Pittsburgh Zoo & Aquarium found out how much a strong gust of wind can do. They flapped, caught some lift and left their hilltop habitat on Saturday, even though their wings were clipped, WPXI and UPI reported.

The birds, Joey and Felicity, flew toward the nearby Allegheny River. Zoo staff and volunteers from other organizations then spent the afternoon chasing them around on the water. Both pelicans were safely back at the zoo by late afternoon, WPXI reported.

## A Breakout Powered by Weather

Zoo President and CEO Dr. Jeremy Goodman said the pair flapped their wings just as strong gusts swept through the exhibit, which gave them enough lift to take off, according to WPXI. UPI reported that the zoo called the winds "favorable." That's one way to put it.

The search team found Joey in the Allegheny River near Sharpsburg and brought him back, UPI reported. Felicity was tracked and watched by zookeepers for a while before she was also safely caught.

The zoo even set up a pelican hotline so neighbors could call in sightings, according to UPI. It's not every week that Pittsburgh gets asked to report a large seabird on the river.

## "Practice Makes Perfect"

Goodman credited his staff and the community at a Tuesday news conference. "We do all sorts of emergency drills, everything from fire drills to escaped animal drills. This is something that we practice on a regular basis throughout the year, and practice makes perfect," he said, as quoted by WTAE and UPI.

He also said a quick recapture is far from guaranteed. "A bird escape is very difficult recapture a lot of times," Goodman said, according to WPXI. "It can be days, weeks, even months before a bird is recovered."

## Why These Birds Can't Just Stay Out There

Joey and Felicity aren't ordinary zoo pelicans. They're two of three pelicans that have lived alongside the zoo's penguins since July 2025, WPXI reported. Wildlife rehabbers in Florida found them and decided their wing injuries left them unable to survive on their own.

Those injuries keep the birds from flying high enough to dive for fish, which wild pelicans rely on for food, Goodman explained to WPXI. In his words, they are "certainly no way releasable."

## What Changes Now

Both birds came back healthy, if a little worn out from their trip, WPXI reported. Each got a fresh wing trim right away. Goodman said the zoo is considering more frequent trims, keeping the pelicans indoors on windy days and changing the habitat.

> What We Know
> - Who: Brown pelicans Joey and Felicity, Pittsburgh Zoo & Aquarium
> - When: Saturday, Oct. 17, 2026
> - How: Strong gusts gave the clipped-wing birds enough lift to fly off
> - Where they went: The Allegheny River; Joey was found near Sharpsburg
> - Outcome: Both recaptured the same day, healthy
> - Next: Possible extra wing trims, windy-day indoor time and habitat changes

Reported by WPXI, UPI, WTAE

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