Gender Reveal Morons Dye Pigeon Pink

It probably sounded like a cute idea – what if we paint a pigeon pink for our gender reveal party? But when the idea was realized, the outcome was very bad for the pigeon.

Adding stupidity to ignorance, the bird was released somewhere near New York city’s Madison Square Park, where a good Samaritan found the disoriented creature and brought it to the Wild Bird Fund, the city’s go-to for wildlife rescue.

“Pigeons come in many different colors,” @wildbirdfund wrote on Twitter, “but pink isn't one of them. This king pigeon was deliberately dyed and released. As a domestic bird unable to find food in the wild, fly well or escape predators, this poor kid had it bad enough before being dyed.”

After a few days under tender care and several baths, the bird (dubbed “Flamingo” for obvious reasons) is not doing well. “After giving our pink guest time to stabilize,” the Fund updated, “our team tried several methods to remove the dye, which we believe is hair dye, with limited success. One problem is that the dye has a strong odor, and we're concerned for the bird's respiratory health.”

As of this writing, Flamingo is being treated with heat, oxygen, and subcutaneous fluids, as well as medication to counteract the toxin in his digestive system. As the bird recuperates (we hope), the fund has two public service announcements to make: never dye a bird and don’t release domestic birds or other animals into the wild. “They have no survival instincts and will starve or be preyed on. Dove releases in all forms are cruel. Please celebrate your life events peacefully without harming others.”

After 25 years as the only wildlife rescue organization in the city, located on Manhattan’s Upper West Side, the Wild Bird Fund recently announced it will open a branch in Brooklyn. The group rehabs more than 7,500 sick, injured, or orphaned animals each year. Check them out – and donate if you can – at wildbirdfund.org.

Photo credit: Alexis Ayala /Wild Bird Fund