Six Counties Pigeon Support

01/11/2026

Regrettably, Emma informed us that Woodie declined suddenly and passed away. Unlike feral pigeons, wood pigeons just aren’t as hardy and also much more prone to stress related issues associated with captivity but unfortunately, one thing they do have in common is their ability to hide just how unwell they are until they have a sudden collapse.

Thank you to Woodie’s finder Leah and rehabber Emma for giving Woodie their best chance. They passed safe, warm and fed. A much kinder passing than on the side of the road.

Sleep tight Woodie. 🌈🪵

31/10/2026

💔

Sharing this as my chihuahua with a heart condition is terrified and my blind pigeon jumps every time one goes off close to the house.

Beautiful to look at, perhaps. But have we ever stopped to think about what fireworks mean for the animals who have no choice but to endure them?

The statistics are heartbreaking:

🐕 Dogs: A 2025 Dogs Trust Ireland survey found that 55% of dogs had shown signs of fear when exposed to fireworks.

🐈 Cats and dogs: A study involving 3,527 animals found that 46% displayed recognisable fear of fireworks. Cats were particularly likely to hide and cower, while dogs displayed more active fear responses.

🐦 Wild birds: Research published in 2024 found that, on New Year’s Eve, approximately 1,000 times as many birds were airborne near fireworks compared with an ordinary night. In some locations, the number reached 10,000–100,000 times the usual level. The disturbance was still measurable up to 10 km away.

And this isn’t simply about being startled by a loud noise. Animals can experience intense fear, panic, disorientation and disrupted resting patterns. Birds may flee their roosts in darkness, wasting precious energy during winter.

While we stand outside enjoying the spectacle, dogs are trembling under beds, cats are hiding in terror, and wildlife is being forced from its natural resting places.

Animals don’t understand celebrations. They don’t know the explosions are supposed to be beautiful. They only know that something terrifying is happening, and they have nowhere to escape.

We have so many ways to celebrate without causing unnecessary suffering to other living beings.

A few minutes of entertainment for us should not come at the expense of their wellbeing.

Perhaps it’s time we started celebrating more compassionately. ❤️

31/10/2026

🎃 Wishing everyone a spooktacular Halloween from us at Six Counties Pigeon Support.

31/10/2026

🎀 MEET SULLIVAN;

I’m glad to report that the hawked pigeon I posted about yesterday, made it through the night. I have named them Sullivan after the street their finder lives on.

Sullivan was spotted by Neil as they were attacked by a hawk. The hawk fled, leaving poor Sullivan behind and injured. Neil then made a FB post asking who to contact about an injured pigeon and thankfully I saw it and was able to offer help. We were short on volunteers, so Neil kindly offered to drop Sullivan to me before he went to work. I can’t thank Neil enough for that. 🥹

On arrival, although Sullivan was brighter than you’d expect, I wasn’t sure they would make it long. Often with hawk attacks, even the ones less injured on the outside can have catastrophic injuries on the inside. My main concern was internal bleeding anything or anything that could cause aspiration.

I am less concerned about that now, but still very much aware that Sullivan has a long road ahead of them. Avoiding infection is a big priority, and then we will have to see whats causing their mobility issues. They do have feeling and movement in their legs but don’t have proper function. Time will tell whether that’s due to fractures, nerve damage or both.

Right now we have a plan of action that will be updated accordingly as we see what progress is or isn’t made. Please wish Sullivan all the best best. 🙏🏻

If you would like to support us or donate towards the care of pigeons like Sullivan, please check out the links below:

PayPal: https://www.paypal.com/paypalme/bloonstuff

Ko-Fi: https://ko-fi.com/sixcountiespigeons

GoFundMe: https://www.gofundme.com/f/6cps-donations

Amazon Wishlist: https://www.amazon.co.uk/registries/gl/guest-view/3UT88TQWHRHAB

30/10/2026

🖤 Two sweet intakes today that we could use some positive and healing thoughts for. One was gotten by a hawk and the other seems to have been sick for a while. They are emaciated and have infection going on.

The hawked pigeon was provided with pain relief and their wounds cleaned. It’s tough and go but they are bright, considering. Tonight they are staying with me (Sara) and we will reevaluate tomorrow if they make it through the night.

The other little pigeon was picked up by Jo after being reported to HFPNI. They haven been fed critical care and peas, plus antibiotics have been started for their underlying infection.

Please keep them in your thoughts and send them healing vibes. They have a long road ahead but at least we can be sure we’ll give them their best chance. 🙏🏻 I’ll update you on them tomorrow, all being well.

Also a little mention for another intake today that unfortunately was too severely injured and was therefore assisted across the rainbow bridge. Sleep tight, little one. 🌈🖤

If you would like to support the work we do and help ease the financial pressure on our team, please consider donating to one of the links below. It honestly means the world. 🫶

PayPal:

https://www.paypal.com/paypalme/bloonstuff

Monzo:

https://monzo.me/saratipping

30/10/2026

🎀 A great introduction to pigeon pants by Love a Dove. Lately I have seen some debate about the ethics surrounding pigeon pants, with some saying if you don’t want to clean up after a pigeon don’t have one rather than putting them in pants.

I think when used responsibly and in the right circumstances, they are great things and the difference between someone being able to give a pigeon a loving home and not. 💗

29/10/2026

🪵 MEET WOODIE;

Now you might be thinking Woodie got their name because they’re a wood pigeon and while that would be on brand for us, Woodie got their name because they are from the Woodburn Road. 😅

Poor Woodie was reported to Help For Pigeons Northern Ireland by Leah, after she spotted them on her driveway for a prolonged period and it became evident they couldn’t fly. Leah contained Woodie and kept them safe until someone could collect them.

The amazing Emma was there in no time and upon assessment, found Woodie had an old injury to their back and was missing all but one tail feather, as well as some other feather loss.

While wood pigeons can maintain some flight without their tail feathers, it’s compromised and therefore leaves them vulnerable. However once they grow back in, Woodie should he good to go.

Woodie will be monitored for any sign of rescue related stress while their feathers grow back in, as wood pigeons are a truly wild species and don’t always tolerate captivity well.

If you would like to support our team and the care they provide for pigeons like Woodie, please consider donating as it helps ease the financial pressure on our team and ensures our service is sustainable. 🫶

PayPal:

https://www.paypal.com/paypalme/bloonstuff

Monzo:

https://monzo.me/saratipping

29/10/2026

🫶 MEET CRAIG;

Craig was spotted in the wind and rain by the lovely Joanne, unable to fly. Joanne was kind enough to transport Craig to our friends at Vets for Pets Lisburn. It is always a massive help to us when finders are able to transport rescues, whether that’s to the vet or one of our team members.

The vet performed an x-ray, which thankfully confirmed no breaks or fractures. So Craig has been prescribed anti-inflammatory pain relief for a probable soft tissue injury.

Craig is now convalescing at Jo Hotel and Spa Resort, until he regains the ability to fly. Please wish him a quick recovery. 💗

A big thank you to Joanne, the staff at Vets 4 Pets and Jo on behalf of little Craig.

If you would like to donate towards the rehab and care costs of sweet pigeons like Craig, please do so at one of the links below. It helps ease the pressure on our team immensely and ensures our service is sustainable. 🫶

PayPal:

https://www.paypal.com/paypalme/bloonstuff

Monzo:

https://monzo.me/saratipping

29/10/2026

👻 On Halloween, adults and children alike, will take to the streets in all manners of fancy dress. Many of which will involve donning a wig, but what happens after?

Many of these wigs are cheap and will shed while worn, or maybe they are itchy so you abandon them halfway through the evening and think nothing of tossing them into a street bin or even worse, the ground.

What many don’t realise is how much of a risk a simple silly wig can be to pigeons and wildlife. Each strand of hair more than an inch or so, has the potential to disable a pigeon for life. 😢

These strands bind around their toes and feet, cutting off blood circulation and severing tendons, until the toes or even entire foot becomes irreversibly damaged and often falls off. This leaves the pigeons open to infection and chronic pain.

So this Halloween we ask that you’re mindful when wearing or discarding wigs or any other costume items that have string or netting. Bagging the items before binning is one simple way to make these hazards safer.

Don’t make your hair, their nightmare! 🎃💀

27/10/2026

🏰 MEET CASTLE;

Castle was originally reported on the Help For Pigeons Northern Ireland FB group and as always, our team member Jo was more than willing to help. Castle was found hiding under a car outside Castlecourt in Belfast by a member of the public, Natasha, who kindly transported him to Jo. 💗

Castle is young, which you can tell by the baby squee he makes in this video and the fact his beak and cere are still mostly pink and fleshy. There’s no way he would have survived on the cold, wet and windy streets for too long and was already starving upon intake.

Castle will be staying at Hotel Jo for the next wee while, until he is old enough and strong enough to give him the best chance to thrive during the harsh winter months once released.

I can’t say the rest of the team aren’t just a wee bit jealous that Jo has all that cuteness to herself but knowing baby pigeons, I’m sure in the coming months there will be plenty to go around.

If you would like to support us so we can help more little lives like Castle’s, please check out the link below. Every donation, big and small, helps take the pressure off our volunteers and keeps our service sustainable. 💖

https://linktr.ee/6CPSlinktree