A Tale of Two Rescues: Lucky Harry and Gentle Edith

I seem to be turning into an animal rescue as this week I have taken in two injured birds: first Harry the pigeon and then Edith the gull.

A couple of nights ago a kind member of the public contacted me wanting help with a pigeon – Harry – that was being attacked by a crow in a local park. She had contained the pigeon in a shoebox but couldn’t hang onto the bird overnight.

Once Harry was safe with me I spotted the ring around his leg, indicating he’s a racing pigeon and belongs to someone. I read the numbers on the tag, input the details into the Royal Pigeon Racing Association website and was very quickly emailed the owner’s details.

I called the owner the following morning though I’ll admit I wasn’t incredibly hopeful. I assumed the owner might be in England or, based on some sad stories I’d read about the world of pigeon racing, not interested in getting Harry back. I’m happy to say I was wrong on all counts.

Harry’s owner was in Aberdeen and was delighted his bird, who should have returned home a couple of days ago, was found. He collected him the same day and after a closer inspection he suspected Harry’s ordeal might have started with a close shave from a peregrine falcon. Now he’s back at home and can rest and recover. Lucky Harry!

The following evening another call for help appeared on my feed. This time it was a gull with a badly broken leg at Codonas. I went and caught her, a little too easily I might add, and I named her Edith. Sadly, there is no happy ending for Edith. She was collected by the SPCA the next morning and her injuries were such that they had to euthanise her. I heard that the damage was inflicted by humans with a putter on the putting green though I was not witness to anything so cannot confirm. If there is any comfort to be found it’s that she spent her last night with a menu of fresh fish for dinner and breakfast and with someone who cared about her even though she probably didn’t know it.