Pink pigeon found injured in park turns out to be part of gender reveal party

02 February 2023 , 15:21

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A pigeon was dyed pink and used for a gender reveal party (Image: Facebook/wildbirdfund)

A pink pigeon was left malnourished and unable to fly after being dyed for a "gender reveal party."

Animal campaigners have hit out at the treatment of the bird after it was reportedly bought at a poultry market for a gender reveal party in Madison Square Park, New York, US, on January 30.

The bird was rescued and taken to the Wild Bird Fund, a non-profit wildlife rehabilitation and education group, who believe the animal was dyed deliberately.

The Wild Bird Fund said: "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.

"Luckily a kind person rescued him in Madison Square Park, and he's now safely in care."

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The gender reveal party is a US tradition (Getty Images)

The Wild Bird Fund were asked who would dye a bird and revealed "gender reveal is a theory growing in popularity".

Some couples throw gender reveal parties to to announce the sex of their unborn child - with the tradition originally starting in the US.

The parties have different ways of announcing the sex of the child such as ballon-popping, which reveals either pink or blue confetti.

However, in this instance, a pigeon was dyed pink to reveal the gender of a child.

The Wild Bird Fund revealed the bird had been bathed several times to try and remove the dye from its feathers.

The bird will shed its feathers and hopefully be able to regrow them back to their normal colour, according to the group.

Some couples throw gender reveal parties to to announce the sex of their unborn child (Getty Images/iStockphoto)

They added domestic birds should never be released into the wild as they won't survive.

The Wild Bird Fund said in a statement: "Please never release domestic birds to the wild.

"Not for weddings, funerals, celebrations, art projects, anything. (We'd hope that 'don't dye them' goes without saying, but...) They will starve or be preyed on.

"If you find an all white pigeon (or any odd colour), especially one looking scared and lost, it needs help."

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The group claim to help over 7,500 sick or orphaned animals before releasing them back into New York.

Animal rescue groups have since slammed the treatment of the bird.

Stephanie Schick, who works at an animal rescue centre, said: "I've seen such an uptick in dyeing birds for gender reveal parties and other such ridiculous events.

"Makes me sick to my stomach. These birds have it hard enough without being dyed.

"Where there is one there are certainly going to be more, as they usually release these dyed birds in flocks."

Liam Buckler