Spanish pigeon found on Nova Scotia’s Sable Island

An injured pigeon hitched a ride on a container ship from Spain to Sable Island.

A pigeon found at Sable Island is believed to be quite far from home – more than 4,000 kilometres, in fact.

Parks Canada found the pigeon seeking shelter at the Sable Island National Park Reserve a week ago, according to a social media post from Hope for Wildlife. The bird was thin and tired, but Parks Canada tended to it until it caught a ride to Nova Scotia with a pilot.

The bird is now recovering at Hope for Wildlife in Seaforth.

“He was a bit underweight and dehydrated and does have a slight wound to his keel, which is his breastplate,” said Brianna Bowes, a wildlife care specialist at Hope for Wildlife, who noted he is making good progress.

It has two leg bands, which are typically the mark of a domestic animal. Hope for Wildlife traced the bands to the Federation Colombophile Internationale in Spain, meaning the bird – named Peter – is likely a racing pigeon.

“You can see he really has the defined features of a well-bred pigeon, including the pattern on his wings,’ said Bowes. “He has more of a slender build and just some more pronounced, kind of dainty features.”

Hope for Wildlife says cargo ships often wait out bad weather behind Sable Island, so it’s possible Peter hitched a ride on one of them when he went too far out to sea and hopped off at the historic island.

With files from CTV Atlantic’s Jesse Thomas

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