1 week Ago By The Weather Network
Sable Island is a place where wild horses and seals live in harmony. But how did this random pigeon end up on the tiny sliver of land 290 kilometres southeast of Halifax? Parks Canada staff were surprised to find this little guy out there. “We’re guessing he didn’t fly across the Atlantic Ocean,” said Brianna Bowes, a rehabilitator for Hope For Wildlife.
DON'T MISS: Get to know the hidden gems across Canada Bowes ventured an educated guess as to how the pigeon got there. “Cargo ships will hang out behind Sable Island to weather storms, so my best guess is that he was on one of those ships and then he flew to Sable Island.” He wasn’t flying or heaving like a normal pigeon .
Upon closer inspection, she noticed he had two leg bands which indicated he wasn’t a wild pigeon—but either a pet or a racing pigeon. A leg band on Peter the Pigeon, who was found on Sable Island. (Nathan Coleman) His band links back to a pigeon fancier association in Spain.
He was placed in a box and flown back to the mainland, where he ended up at the Hope For Wildlife rehabilitation centre. They’ve reached out to the organization in Spain that his band is linked to and are still waiting to hear back. As a domesticated pigeon, he likely wouldn’t have survived on Sable Island without wild instincts.
“He was definitely raised by people. You can tell by his behaviour,” Bowes said. Pigeons thrive in cold temperatures and are one of the only bird species that will have babies in the dead of winter.
WATCH: Take a trip with us to the famous Sable Island Click here to view the video.
