'Sweet Pink Pigeon' Dies From Dye, Upper West Side Bird Group Says

UPPER WEST SIDE, NY — A pink pigeon named Flamingo who was rescued from a Lower Manhattan park and cared for by an Upper West Side bird organization died on Tuesday.

The Wild Bird Fund, which is based near West 87th Street and Columbus, speculates that the pigeon was dyed pink for a gender reveal party.

"“We are deeply sad to report that Flamingo, our sweet pink pigeon, has passed away,” Wild Bird Fund wrote in a tweet. "Despite our best efforts to reduce the fumes coming off the dye, while keeping him calm and stable, he died in the night. We believe his death was caused by inhaling the toxins."

"We don't know why this bird was dyed or released; many of our followers guessed gender reveal, but it could have been another kind of ceremony, an art stunt, we don't know," Wild Bird Fund said in a statement to Patch. "The bottom line: don't harm animals for any of these reasons."

Flamingo, a King pigeon, was found last week in Madison Square Park by a dog walker who immediately took the pigeon to the Wild Bird Fund.

The bird organization said that the pigeon was malnourished with stress bars on his feathers, and likely was purchased from a poultry market opposed to being a pet. The bird was barely older than a baby, and appeared to have never flown.

King pigeons are generally raised for food, and the Wild Bird Fund recommends that if you see a very large, all-white pigeon that appears tame and lost, you should do your best to help it.

The bird organization added that events like dove releases sound romantic, but in reality "are the equivalent of dumping your helpless pets on the side of the road."

"Thank you to everyone for the expressions of goodwill and the many helpful suggestions," the Wild Bird Fund wrote on Twitter.