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.

Peter the pigeon and Brianna Hope For Wildlife animal care specialist Brianna Bowes holds Peter the pigeon, who was found seeking shelter on Sable Island. (Source: Jesse Thomas/CTV News Atlantic)

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.

Peter the pigeon bands Peter the pigeon is believed to be from Spain. (Source: Facebook/Hope for Wildlife)

“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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