NEW YORK — The pigeon that was dyed pink and then released before it was found in the park Madison Square Park last week, she died, according to the bird rescue group that was caring for her.
Wild Bird Fund he had been caring for the domestic king pigeon and said it appeared to be “barely more than a chick” when it was found in a park in Manhattan. The bird showed signs of malnutrition.
The group noted that domesticated birds have trouble surviving because they can’t find food in the wild, fly well or escape predators.
(On an unrelated note, that’s part of the concern surrounding the Central Park Zoo’s owl right now.)
As for the Madison Square Park pigeon, the Wild Bird Fund tweeted Tuesday: “Despite our best efforts to reduce fumes emanating from the dye, while we kept it calm and stable, it died overnight. We believe its death was caused by inhalation of toxins”.
“Pigeons come in many different colors and plumages, but pink is not one of them,” the group had said in a facebook post after they found her.
Being an unusual color would make this bird even more of a target. The group said a good Samaritan rescued the pink dove.
“Please, never release pet birds into the wild. Not for weddings, funerals, celebrations, art projects, anything. (We hope ‘don’t dye them’ goes without saying, but…) They will starve or be preyed on,” he said. the Wild Bird Fund.
“If you see a completely white pigeon in the wild, or any domesticated bird that seems lost, you need your help. Trap the bird and bring it to a pigeon shelter or animal sanctuary near you.”
It was not immediately clear why the bird was tinged pink.
