Latest news with #pigeon
CTV News
a day ago
- Health
- CTV News
Saskatoon mom says pigeon problem threatens toddler's health
A Saskatoon mother is raising concerns about a pigeon problem at her condo building that she says poses serious health risks to her toddler, who has a chronic illness. Lauren Helstrom says cleaning up after pigeons has become part of her daily routine. 'I have to come out here every single day to get rid of the nests, to get rid of the feathers, to get rid of these eggs. This is absolutely disgusting,' she told CTV News. Helstrom says she has spent months trying to keep the birds away — using spikes, sound machines and lights — but nothing has worked. She says she's concerned for her three-year-old daughter, who has a chronic lung disease and is vulnerable to respiratory irritants such as pigeon feathers and droppings. 'Really, a pigeon infestation is dangerous for everybody, but especially for a child who is so vulnerable to lung infections,' she said. Saskatoon mom says pigeon problem threatens toddler's health Image shows bird poop on Helstrom's balcony (CTV News/ Dan Shingoose) Helstrom says she requested a disability accommodation from the property management company, asking permission to install a pigeon net on her balcony. She says she offered to pay for it herself and provided doctors' letters in support of the request, but it was denied. 'They told me that it had something to do with wind vortexes, aesthetic reasons and structural concerns,' she said. Helstrom says the net would be professionally installed and would not damage the building. She has since filed a complaint with the Saskatchewan Human Rights Commission. 'I feel very discriminated against because I don't know how to keep my daughter's lungs safe here,' she said. 'This is where we live. I own this place, I don't rent it. I can't just get up and move.' CTV News reached out to Turanich Acquisitions Management for comment but did not receive a response by deadline. In the meantime, Helstrom says she will continue to advocate for her daughter's health.
Yahoo
11-07-2025
- Entertainment
- Yahoo
Community builds new home for mysterious rare bird residing in Kent
***Watch previously coverage above*** KENT, Ohio (WJW) – An unusual bird that has become a local celebrity in Kent over the past few months was gifted a more permanent home in the city. The owner of Jason's Barber Shop on E. Erie Street first spotted the unique pigeon with shimmering green and purple tinted black and white feathers outside his shop. 'I was just like, wow, that bird is not from Ohio,' Jason Fabick told FOX 8 News in May. The bird, named Harvey after a beloved local man who passed away, has an ankle band and appears to be a Hungarian Budapest White-Flight High Flyer. 70 million-year-old dinosaur fossil found beneath Denver museum's parking lot It's a fancier species that is not native to the Buckeye State. Community members think Harvey could be someone's escaped or released pet. The community tried to find Harvey's potential owner or a sanctuary that would take the rare bird in. 'He is obviously lost. We just want someone who will care for him and love him and have other birds to be around to socialize with,' said Brooke Crocker, who works next door at Belleria Pizza and has been helping Fabick care for Harvey. So far, nobody has claimed Harvey and they've been unable to find a sanctuary. The ankle band, unfortunately, did not provide any information. Free fries? Where to find yours on National French Fry Day 'Several people offered to take him, but it appears Harvey has made the choice to stay and he likes being fed too,' said Tim Reiheld, Jason's friend and customer. One concern was Harvey being out in the elements and at night when the area gets loud with music from local bars and restaurants. They would see Harvey looking uncomfortable huddled next to the buildings. So, the community decided to make Harvey a more permanent and comfortable home in the city. Residents built a custom bird house, complete with Harvey's name on it, and businesses in the area plan to continue caring for the mysterious bird that chose Kent as its new home. Copyright 2025 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed.
Daily Mail
10-07-2025
- Entertainment
- Daily Mail
llluminous green PIGEON causes flap as TikTokers flock to town to catch a glimpse
An illuminous green pigeon has been causing a flap with TikTokers flocking to its town to catch a glimpse. The Northampton native is regularly spotted next to a church in the town centre with rumours swirling over how it got its distinctive plumage. Amid an influx of social media creators looking to get a snap of the bizarre bird, the RSPCA has issued a warning around the dangers online trends can have on wildlife. The charity believes the fluorescent character could have been deliberately dyed or painted - but others have suggested it might have brought it upon itself with an unusual diet. Robin Hinkmott snapped the bird outside All Saints Church on June 28 and said: 'Me and my partner were playing Pokemon Go that weekend so wandered that way to see if we could spot the shiny pigeon. 'If I had to guess it was someone having a laugh, or dyed for a wedding or a some sort of event. 'It doesn't seem to be negatively impacted by it or treated differently. I suppose there's a risk that it might be more visible to predators.' Alex Zambon, 33, who works in the city centre, added: 'I often have my lunch around there and there's always people filming it. 'One guy said he'd come up from London and I've heard many travel long distances to see it, which is a bit bonkers, as Northampton isn't really known for loads of tourists. 'So to have a pigeon as a tourist attraction is quite funny really. 'I heard one bird expert on the radio say it may be down to what it eats, like seagulls can go a bit pink if they eat shrimps. But it's a bit of a mystery.' Birdwatch Magazine optics editor Mike Alibone, meanwhile, said he believed the bird was originally white in colour but had been dyed green. He said: 'The reason for this is not clear but the bird has certainly escaped and joined the resident feral pigeon flock in Northampton town centre. 'Some racing pigeon owners are known to dye their birds but it is not a particularly common practice that happens frequently in the UK. 'But some pigeons can be dyed pink or blue for a gender-reveal party - a tradition where expectant couples learn the sex of their baby using pink or blue items. 'Green may be a less common colour for dyeing, but this might also be linked to some form of "columbicultura", where a single female pigeon seeks to avoid up to eighty "gaudily painted" pigeons chasing and seeking to mate with her, which is not uncommon in Spain. 'It's regarded as a sport - so it might be something connected with pigeon racing. 'With regard to how the bird is affected, it depends on the chemical composition of the dye and whether it contains anything poisonous to the bird or whether it affects the bird's natural waterproofing of its plumage. 'It should not affect flying ability. The Northampton bird seemed in fine fettle and was competing successfully with the other pigeons for food being thrown down by people keen to feed them.' However it came to look so eccentric, one thing's for sure - the 'famous viral green pigeon of Northampton' has become a hit on TikTok. One web user said: 'It's absolutely crazy people are travelling to my home town just to get a video of a pigeon.' Another added: 'Why is it even like that, is it radioactive or Incredible Hulk of the bird kingdom.' The RSPCA has issued warnings after seeing a social media-fuelled trend of parents-to-be dyeing birds pink of blue for gender reveal parties. Birds have died after inhaling toxins in the dye while it can also impact their flying ability and make them more vulnerable to predators, the charity explained. A spokesperson for the RSPCA said: 'We suspect this pigeon's feathers have been painted - something we seem to be hearing about more and more. 'The majority of us want the best for animals, and to treat them with respect - so it's important to remember that intentionally painting a pigeon's feathers can be dangerous for the animal. 'It can cause health problems, impair their ability to fly and make them more vulnerable to predators. 'Dye and paints can be toxic to birds and other animals, and they would be likely to try to clean any such substance from their coat or feathers which could result in them swallowing it. 'Until its next moult, this pigeon will likely be more at risk in the wild. 'Sadly, from time to time we do hear anecdotally about incidents involving animals being affected in this way - and sadly we fear social media trends could be fuelling this. 'To find out what to do if you witness an incident involving dyeing or painting an animal, please visit the RSPCA's website. 'There's also more information about how to help a wild animal you may have concerns for.'
News.com.au
25-06-2025
- News.com.au
‘May his soul rest in peace': Sick post after pigeon attacked with golf club by trio of Western Australian men
WARNING: Distressing content A trio of men have been fined for their roles in the 'despicable' bashing of a pigeon with a golf club, with a court being told a vile video of the ordeal was published online. The sick clip which became the subject of an RSPCA WA investigation depicts one man, 25, hitting the bird with the club, launching it more than a metre through the air. A screenshot from further in the video shows the attacker mid-swing as he brings the golf club down on the defenceless bird as it flaps its wings. The 25-year-old hit the bird four times, with its feathers falling out with each subsequent hit. After the assault, the pigeon was picked up, still alive, and tossed into a nearby skip bin. The 25-year-old was fined $48,000 for his role, while the two other offenders – both 30-year-old men, were fined $39,000 for their part in producing the video. The trio were all working on a gold mining project in Western Australia at the time of the 2023 offence. The video, posted to one of the offender's Snapchat stories, was captioned 'May his soul rest in peace' followed by a crying laughing emoji. The pigeon was alive throughout the sinister attack, and the men could be heard laughing throughout the video. The men were sentenced on Monday in the Kalgoorlie Magistrates Court where magistrate William Yoo labelled the attacker's 'abominable' conduct as a 'disgusting and despicable thing to do'. He said the act 'was absolutely disgusting, vile and reprehensible,' and the 'innocent and vulnerable' pigeon's distress was evident throughout the assault. Mr Yoo described the men as having 'egged each other on' and betraying their 'own humanity'. RSPCA WA inspector manager Kylie Green said the behaviour of the men in the video was disgusting. 'There is never an excuse to torment or abuse an animal,' she said. 'The fines handed down today are profoundly significant and it is hoped the message is loud and clear to those who think that cruelty towards animals is OK.'
Yahoo
24-06-2025
- Yahoo
Aussie tradies cop $126,000 in fines for 'disgusting and vile' act shared on social media
WARNING — GRAPHIC CONTENT: Three tradies have been fined a collective $126,000 in animal cruelty charges over what a magistrate described as an "absolutely disgusting, vile and reprehensible" attack against a pigeon with a golf club. According to the RSPCA's Western Australia branch, the trio bragged about the disturbing incident online on social media, attracting swift criticism from both the authorities and animal rights groups alike. The WA-based men, one aged 24 and two aged 30, all pleaded guilty to animal cruelty at the Kalgoorlie Magistrates Court on Monday. They were working at the Norseman Gold Project at the time of the offence on June 17, 2023. The younger man was fined $48,000 while the older two were fined $39,000. All three had their applications for a spent conviction (a conviction for a crime that is not disclosed publicly) dismissed. In the footage uploaded to Snapchat, one of the offenders was heard speaking to the pigeon, saying "be careful, alright? Because there's some bad c**** around here". The video shows two men initially holding a white and grey pigeon, before the 24-year-old man strikes it with a golf club, sending the bird flying more than a metre through the air. The clip is captioned, "May his soul rest in peace," accompanied by a laughing emoji. After the bird lands, both men are heard laughing. The 24-year-old then proceeded to hit the pigeon four more times, with feathers visibly falling out after each blow. He then picks the injured bird up by its foot, leaving it hanging upside down. The pigeon remained alive and visibly moving throughout the assault, before the man placed it in a nearby skip bin. In sentencing, Magistrate William Yoo said the attack was "a disgusting and despicable thing to do", branding the offenders "incomprehensible" and "abominable". "[The act] was absolutely disgusting, vile and reprehensible," he said. "[The pigeon's] distress was evident, and the pigeon was an innocent and vulnerable animal." Man caught in 'disgusting' act with kangaroo on Aussie road Aussie man given 10-year BAN after 'filthy' discovery in suburban garage Pet pig suffers 'bizarre' act of cruelty, Aussie man fined $5000 Magistrate Yoo said the younger man knew what he was doing and there was a "degree of persistence" in his actions. He told each offender they "egged each other on" and "betrayed [their] own humanity". "[This is a] very serious and shocking matter which should shock the public's conscience," he said. RSPCA WA Inspector Manager Kylie Green echoed the strong sentiment. "There is never an excuse to torment or abuse an animal," she said. "The fines handed down today are profoundly significant, and it is hoped the message is loud and clear to those who think that cruelty towards animals is okay." Two of the men were also sentenced under sections 7 and 8 of the Criminal Code. It was found that they aided and encouraged the third offender to commit the offence. Do you have a story tip? Email: newsroomau@ You can also follow us on Facebook, Instagram, TikTok, Twitter and YouTube.
