The male pigeon that was dyed orange by someone and is now a new father. Photos courtesy of Toronto Wildlife Centre.
This is a touching story between two love-struck Toronto pigeons who survived hardships in the wild and would fall in love and have a baby.
The female pigeon suffered burns and singed feathers after a Bathurst Street bridge explosion in downtown Toronto late last year, according to the Toronto Wildlife Centre (TWC).
Toronto police said an explosion occurred last November 27 under a bridge on Bathurst Street and Fort York Boulevard. No one was injured in the explosion which occurred when some propane cylinders were exposed to heat from a fire.
The mother pigeon which had its feathers burned and singed from a bridge explosion. Photo courtesy Toronto Wildlife Centre.
A second bird, her male partner, had his white feathers dyed orange, and caused a flurry of activity from many residents sharing sightings of him on social media, the TWC said in a posting.
‘But just when we thought these two birds couldn’t become more iconic, they surprised us all by having a baby,” Centre officials said.
They said the ‘situation is extremely rare.”
“Although pigeons can lay eggs year-round, they aren’t normally in care long enough to form bonds with one another,” according to the TWC.
Apparently the birds became besties while in captivity.
The baby pigeon that was born in a hide box in what is called a very rare event.
“But with their lengthy stay, these two became quite close,” the wildlife workers said. “The stealthy lovers created a nest inside a hide box, out of sight from our team.”
They said by the time the well-concealed nest was discovered the baby had hatched from an egg.
”It is extremely rare for patients to lay eggs in care at all,” TWC workers said. “This little pigeon is a one in a million baby!”
A hide box is typically used by small owls and is located very high up in a large aviary,” the Centre said.
“ It is extremely rare for patients to lay eggs in care at all,” workers said. “The dutiful parents are taking good care of the new addition.”
As for the pigeon dyed orange, a TWC team is waiting for the bird to shed his dyed feathers and regrow ones that are in his natural colour through molting.
TWC is dedicated to providing care of the birds in captivity and hope to release the rehabilitated pigeons back into the wild.
How is that for a tender love story from pigeons who had undergone suffering to now have the love of their lives.
The TWC are seeking names of the baby pigeon. They can be reached by e-mail at access@torontowildlifecentre.com.