Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1909-10-24
FEEDING THE PELICANS
Birds and Animals Being Placed in
Winter Quarters.
SCIENTIFIC FOOD METHODS
Ravens Known as "Gabby" and
"Mr. Johnson''-Awaiting Roose-
welt Specimens From Africa.

| With the appearance OF the dark brown,
red and yellow leaves of autumn and the
few struggling fall flowers, to say moth
ing of recent frost touches as the fore
runner of cold weather. the Zoo keepers
are taking the hint and for the past week
or more, under the direction Of Stunt
| Baker and Headkeeper Blackburn, have
been labOring to put both animals and
buildings in shipshape for the coming
winter. All the cages and Enclosures in
the open which were occupied during the
summer months have, undergone minute
inspection.
The tropical birds and beasts have
been transferred to house quarters, while
the acclimated species-those destined to
be outside in the SHOWS and frOsts-have
undergone an examination for fitness. and
inside provision made for the very few
which it is feared cannot stand the rigors
OF winter weather. These are few in
deed and have been or will be placed
inside the buildings because of old age
or unlocked for physical defects.
Supt. Baker and Headkeeper Blackburn
have reason to feel proud of their record
in the keeping and the handling of their
| charges. The record of the Zoo in this
| particular is on par with the Bronx
London and Paris zoos, and exceeds it is
|
country and Europe.
| The consistently satisfactory condition
-of the Zoo animals is due primarily to
the intelligent care they have received
the quality and quantity of food they are
glver and the efforts to make their prison
| abodes near like their natural habitats
| as possible. The food and care of the
| animals has been a scientific study with
Headkeeper Blackburn and the older
| keepers under him. The matter of feed
| ing the animals keen al
| healthy and cOntented, has been an i'm
| POrtant problem with all geological gar
den and menagerie men. Whatever secrets
there are in the methods, the changing of
the diets and the regulation of the supply
| from day to day seem to have been
solved in Washington.
Affection of Birds and Beasts.
A recent trip to the Zoo with a weather
eye open on the under keepers in their
attitude toward their charges indicated
to what extent the affection and de-
pendence of animals and birds will reach
toward their human friends, and reflected
the spirit of kindness instilled in the corps
of keepers by the superintendent and
headkeeper. At the bridge over Rock
creek. just beyond the pathway leading
from the park entrance on Adams Mill
road, bird keeper was feeding flock
OF dozen or more white pelicans with
AS he appeared at the feeding grounds
the birds eyed him suspiciouSly and re-
treated toward the water. The bucket he
carried looked familiar. but they appeared
to want something else for Identification.
+, AS he approached nearer the whole flock
bounded into the water and started I'D
| stream. The keeper placed his bucket on
the ground and clapping his hands loudly,
and began calling several of the older birds
! by name The effect was instantaneous
ana back they came with rush to him.
crowding and pushing each other in their
| feet
bird on the outside of the circle Make
catch. Into the water with you
He promptly threw big piece of fish
out over the stream and Cap caught
| it in the big pouch under his bill on a
half run, swim and fly.
The whole flock was fed in this way,
one-half in the water and the other half
crowding around his legs Each bird
| was called by name, and occasionally the
| keeper stopped to pat one on the head
They seemed to know by instinct that
after catching three or four pieces of
| fish they had gotten their quota o. food
| for the afternoon. AS the keeper was
about to leave he tossed small piece
of fish TO a black stork which had been
| hunting among the pebbles of the
| streams banks for water worms. Several
pelicans saw 1t and made for the stork
with raised head feathers and flaming
wings.
Cut it. Cut it, the keeper, yelled clap
ping his hands and uttering several shrill
whistles. Inc pelican onslaught stopped
like magic. They turned up stream and
let the stork swallow his bite
| The same keeper later i'm the afternoon
mace his way to the octagonal cage of