Stop dyeing birds for gender reveals, charity says

Polly the pigeon may have been dyed pink for a gender reveal celebration, according to an animal sanctuary

An animal sanctuary is asking people not to dye birds for use in gender reveal celebrations after taking in a bright pink pigeon.

Polly, a pigeon whose wings and feet had been dyed pink and yellow for what is believed to have been a gender reveal, was taken to Pudz Animal Sanctuary in South Killingholme this week.

Sanctuary founder Shena Fairless said birds who are dyed are not only at risk from harmful chemicals in the dye, but are also more vulnerable to predators.

She said: "It's just for a few minutes of entertainment, then the bird has to live with that for the rest of its life".

Pudz Animal Sanctuary said Polly was settling in well.

Ms Fairless said the dyeing was "just not a nice thing for it to go through" and added "you just don't know what might happen".

Despite Polly's ordeal, Ms Fairless said she is settling in well at the sanctuary, adding: "She's made some friends, she's eating well, and she's trying to fly.

"She's safe, so we'll see how she goes."

The RSPCA also issued a similar warning about using birds in gender reveals earlier this year.

A spokesperson for the charity said they feared "social media trends could be fuelling" incidents, and said dyeing or painting their feathers could make it so birds are no longer able to fly.

Gender reveal celebrations are a way for expectant parents to announce whether their baby will be a boy or a girl and have grown in popularity over the last few years.

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