LS -- BOATS



BOAT -- PAN TO - PELICANS



BOAT TO CAMERA



CROWD ON SHORE



PELICAN



BOATS SURROUND PELICANS



3 SHOTS - MEN WADE AFTER PELICANS



PEOPLE ON SHORE



FAN -- BOATS



MAN WITH PELICAN



PELICAN INTO TRUCK



TRUCK DRIVES OFF




Initials



Script is copyright Reuters Limited. All rights reserved

Background: THE GREAT OUTDOORS OF THE BRONX IS NO PLACE FOR A PELICAN IN THE WINNER. AND HARDLY A PLACE FOR A BRONXITE. SO TODAY AT THE BOROUGH'S FAMOUS ZOO, WE WATCHED A PELICAN ROUND-UP AS THE BIRDS CAME IN OFF THE LAKE TO WINTER INDOORS.

AS ANYONE WHO HAS EVER TRIED TO CATCH A PELICAN WILL TELL YOU, IT ISN'T EASY. THERE WERE SEVEN OF THE BIG-BEAKED BIRDS TO SNARE. AND IT TOOK CURATOR WILLIAM CONWAY (CQ) A CREW OF ELEVEN MEN IN SEVEN BOATS TO DO IT. THERE WERE SOME DIFFICULT MOMENTS WITH THE FIRST SIX. BUT THE SEVENTH LED THE WILDEST CHASE OF ALL. HE'S AN OLD PRO WHO'S BEEN AT THE ZOO FOR 20 (twenty) YEARS. WISE IN THE WAYS OF EVASION, HE DUCKED AND DODGED WHILE THE AMATEURS WERE HUSTLED OFF THE SCENE.

A SLIPPERY BIRD IN THE PELICAN
WHEN HE RUNS, HE RUNS PELL_MELLICAN.

AND MANY A KEEPER --
TURNS INTO A WEEPER --
THOUGH THE BIRD THINKS THE CHASE IS JUST SWELLICAN!
MAN PROOVES HIMSELF TO PELICAN IN THE BRONX ZOO.

THIS IS AN ANNUAL EVENT -- KNOWN AS THE "PELICAN ROUND-UP"; GETTING THE PELICANS INTO WINTER QUARTERS FROM THE LAKE, THAT RUNS TO A DEPTH OF THREE FEET, IS NOT EASY IN 53 (fifty-three) DEGREE TEMPERATURE.