Pigeon Post

BIRDS RESCUED FROM NESTING IN MAIL VAN

At this time of the year you may be familiar with having to avoid the occasional post box, especially in rural areas, due to birds nesting inside, but a family of pigeons has just been discovered hitching a ride on the undercarriage of a postal van, for more than three weeks!

The two juveniles (squabs), who were rescued with their mum after she was seen climbing under the vehicle, are thought to have been living in the van while it carried out its 3.5 mile (5km) postal rounds between the delivery office in Nailsea and Flax Bourton in North Somerset.

Volunteers from a Curious Critters, a local rescue team who had to use an A frame to lift the van in order to extricate the birds from a narrow spot right at the back of the chassis, said the mother probably nested there because it was dry and warm. They also said they were all "in good health" and the squabs' had full crops so the parents had been feeding them well.

"Given pigeons sit on their eggs for around 18 days, and the squabs are at least three weeks old, they have been under there a long time," they added.

Now safely in the charity's rehabilitation aviary they will be safely released together once the youngsters are fully independent and flying well.

(Pic credits: Above left, Creature Critters rescue charity and right, postal worker Louise Thomas)