#PelicanYoga Real Crime Story

#PelicanYoga Real Crime Story STORY AND PHOTOGRAPHY BY ROBERT NEFF

Sting Operation to Catch the Thief, Snowy Egret

#PelicanYoga's World Headquarters at Maximo Seafood Shack in St. Petersburg, Florida had been experiencing bold daylight criminal thievery targeting fresh cut grouper. At first, the presence of the white snowy egret went unnoticed. Then, an anonymous tip was sent to the #PelicanYoga Special Investigative Unit in charge of capturing the thief. Here is the Real Crime Story.

Surveillance footage provided a suspect. As feared, it was the elusive snowy egret. This was not his first brush with the law.

Fishmongers at Maximo Seafood Shack have been working overtime to clean and cut fish. Business is bursting at the seams.

Snowbirds have arrived en masse this year because of the cold winters up north. This was the worst time to have a thief! Seems, everyone wanted the "Shack's" fresh cut grouper!

Pelicans created a command center on the Maximo Seafood Shack's roof to coordinate the sting operation.

Several locations around Maximo Marina were used for surveillance. This is the boat ramp at 37th Street South.

Grouper decoys filets were embedded with electronic tracking devices.

Canadian Snowbirds volunteered their famed Ontario unit. This unit also has been reprimanded for excessive beer drinking. Everyone knows, Don't accept an invite unless you "Cross check."

Dusk patrols were utilized. The young males quickly volunteered.

Females flew low level surveillance missions.

Low level surveillance footage captured the snowy egret gathering intelligence on the grouper filet's movements.

Stakeouts do not always occur during sunny weather.

Pelicans supervised the return of the human recon mission.

The operation was now well into Florida's winter.

Anhinga drying his wings after an underwater surveillance mission.

This may be the suspected snowy egret's accomplice.

#PelicanYoga continues as scheduled. Any cancellation of classes may tip off the thief.

A "No Drone" fly zone was created to ensure smooth operations.

Tampa Bay Pilot Boats provided resources for any boarding opportunities.

This was a joint "Rookery" operation.

Females pelicans serve on the front line. These "Snipers" use the pylon to blend in with the marina.

Overhead surveillance teams returning from a mission.

As the days passed without nabbing the thief, seagulls were added to pylons.

Migrating white pelicans from Fort DeSoto were brought in for high altitude surveillance.

A special pelican hover corp was added. They can hover overhead, unnoticed.

The "Beakon Times" newspaper embedded a reporter.

Pelicans were encouraged to eat whenever they could. Never know when the mission takes precedent.

#PelicanYoga offers Advanced Diving Yoga. These poses prove it helps!

Due to the long stakeouts, pelicans are provided leave to return to the rookery and catch up on sleep and see family.

Humans were assigned to the sailboat and watercraft to blend in with the busy marina.

Intel suggested the suspected thief was attracted to the luxury lifestyle. A sleek euro yacht was added to provide a "Miami Vice" type feel.

Seasoned veteran pelicans were circulated with grouper filets to let the thief know grouper filets were being prepped for lunch.

To draw attention to the grouper filets, pelicans were encouraged to draw attention to the grouper filets.

This was another method to draw attention!

Joint human-pelican missions were added.

A second covert viewing spot was added. This ocean going catamaran had "Caribbean" written all over it and was the perfect cover!

The sting operation was under the command of the young #PelicanYoga instructor. He had distinguished himself in Storm Rescue Operations and was familiar with the Tampa Bay area.

Everyone had settled in for a long stakeout.

Overhead surveillance was scanning the skies for suspicious activity.

During stakeouts, it was good to stretch and stay alert.

Every corner was being watched.

Surveillance teams were well trained,

Commander received intelligence that the suspected thief's identity had been confirmed. The hi-tech electronic tracker embedded in the grouper filet paid off. This linked the snowy egret to the crimes.

BOLO was quickly circulated!

All eyes were on the lookout for the snowy egret!

Every direction was being monitored!

#PelicanYoga's SWAT Team was on high alert in the sailboat converted into an armored carrier.

Surveillance spotted the snowy egret!

The commander made the call, "Move in!"

Caught in the act!

and with the evidence!

While the humans hosed the fish-cleaning table with water, the pelicans blocked the Snowy Egret escape.

The snowy egret tried to ditch the evidence.

The Snowy Egret was surrounded and the arrest made.

Now filets can be served without fear of the "Snowy Egret Thief"

This called for a big celebration at Maximo Seafood Shack in St. Petersburg, Florida.

The "Shack" was packed for the celebration!

Buckets of beer and hard lemonade!

Next Social is the #SunsetSocial.

This happens twice a year when the sun is directly down the Maximo Channel

Join us for the #SunsetSocial on 3/19/16

This story was brought to you by the Maximo Seafood Shack in St. Petersburg, Florida. Located out on the pier at Maximo Marina.

Visit #PelicanYoga's website and read more stories, see more pictures

For more of Robert Neff's Stories, Photography and Contemporary Art, visit Fifth World Art

Robert Neff is an award winning photographer.He specializes in weather, international events, sports (Rugby and Grand Prix), NASA, lifestyle, boats and sailing, nature, wildlife, and travel. Work has been published in national and international newspapers and magazines. He is also a writer with a published book and several articles in newspapers and journals.

ARTIST STATEMENT: Robert Neff’s contemporary art is dynamic and vibrant, and engages the senses. His photography and storytelling are the inspiration and basis for his fine art. Nature and life’s colors, tones, and shapes are transformed into mixed media art work. Design studies are used to explore geometrics, color, and patterns. As your perspective changes, so does the design. His approach changes how your vision interprets everyday experiences.

During his solo show at Art Miami’s Spectrum Miami, art lovers were drawn into his fine art work. His style drew comparisons to Vasarely and the Op Art movement. One collector from Uruguay compared his style to "Constructivism" and the great Uruguay artist, Garcia.

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Robert Neff

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