Pink pigeon found in New York City’s Madison Square Park thought to be deliberately dyed

NEW YORK — A rescue group believes a pink dove discovered in New York City was intentionally dyed and released.

A Good Samaritan spotted the animal Monday in Madison Square Park after noticing the brightly colored bird scurrying about.

The king pigeon, a domestic bird, was brought to the Wild Bird Fund, a non-profit wildlife rehabilitation and education center, in rather poor condition.

The nonprofit said the pigeon, which they named Flamingo, had never flown before and may have been purchased at a poultry market.

The group said the bird cannot survive in the wild because it cannot find food, fly well or escape predators. And a bright, unusual color makes it even more of a target.

“She shouldn’t be on the streets, she has no survival skills. She relies on people for everything,” said Antonio Sanchez of the Wild Bird Fund.

Wild Bird Fund officials believe the dove was intentionally colored.

“I don’t think we’ve ever actually had a pink pigeon come into the clinic, so we were all quite surprised,” Sanchez said. “We were frankly disgusted that anyone would do something like that.”

They shared the following advice on social media, warning New Yorkers not to put other birds at the same risk.

“PSA: Please never release native birds into the wild. Not for weddings, funerals, celebrations, art projects, anything. (We’d hope “don’t dye them” goes without saying, but…) They’ll starve or be hunted. If you see an all-white dove in the wild or a tame bird that is lost, it needs your help. Please catch the bird and take it to your local pigeon rescue or shelter.