Bird News: Owl Flaco Cruises Fifth Avenue, Gender-Reveal Pigeon Dies, Concussed Hawk Recovers
First, the sad: The pigeon that was dyed pink for gender-reveal idiocy didn’t make it. “We are deeply sad to report that Flamingo, our sweet pink pigeon, has passed away,” tweeted New York City’s wildlife rescue Wild Bird Fund. “Despite our best efforts to reduce the fumes coming off the dye, while keeping him calm and stable, he died in the night. We believe his death was caused by inhaling the toxins.”
The Fund noted that the king pigeon was malnourished and barely older than a baby with no survival skills. Even if Flamingo hadn’t been doused with toxic dye, he would not have survived as a white, helpless bird in the urban jungle.
In happier bird-rescue news, the team took in a concussed Cooper’s hawk last week, another avian victim of window collision. The majestic creature they named Red Baron had arrived at the clinic “cold and unable to stand,” but after just four days of tender care –heat, oxygen, and fluids – he was released. (Since these hawks feed mostly on medium-sized birds, including pigeons, the rescuers must feel at least a little bit conflicted about sending Red Baron off for more tooth-and-claw activity.) Watch the release here.
Speaking of majestic, we’re all still on tenterhooks watching Flaco, the Eurasian eagle owl that was sprung last week from his Central Park Zoo enclosure by vandals. Flaco hasn’t strayed very far from his home of the past 12 years, as he perches high in the trees surrounding the zoo. He did briefly cruise Fifth Avenue, where he was seen window shopping at Bergdorf’s.
For the most part he’s sticking close to the zoo. Occasionally he even stops in on trees within the confines of the zoo, including inside the crane exhibit. Flaco was spotted swooping down on park rats (unsuccessfully), but since he has no formal training in hunting, he likely would not survive on his own. Because Flaco is sticking so close to home, the zoo staff hopes he will eventually stop in for a meal, at which point he’ll get a hero’s welcome. Fingers crossed!
Photo credit:Manhattan Bird Alert via Twitter
