How do pelicans cooperate to herd fish in shallow water?

When fishing in shallow water, pelicans often cooperate to form a "living net" to capture their prey. They achieve this by arranging themselves into a crescent shape facing the shore, or sometimes into a complete circle.1

Once in position, the birds close in on the fish while splashing and paddling vigorously. Each pelican maintains its station, which causes the fish to panic as their escape routes are blocked. This herding behavior traps the fish, allowing the birds to scoop them up using their distensible throat pouches. This cooperative strategy is also used by pelicans to herd and capture ducklings.1