Heroic pigeons saved thousands of human lives in wartime, as vital messengers. 32 pigeons won the PDSA Dickin Medal, in recognition of their outstanding service and sacrifice.
Nowadays, pigeons have become targets for abuse and persecution, and are maligned, kicked and chased. This is horrible to see, and is heartbreaking.
This year, Prince William and Kate launched The Royal Foundation Centre for Early Childhood to “drive awareness of, and action on, the extraordinary impact of the early years, changing what we think and do on early childhood, in order to transform society for generations to come.” The website link is: royalfoundation.com
1. Please ask the Royal Foundation Centre to stress the importance of teaching children to be kind to all creatures, particularly pigeons. What we teach children in the early years stays with them.
2. Ask the Prime Minister to keep his promise, made on Holocaust Memorial Day, to “fight against ALL forms of hatred and prejudice, wherever they are found”, by outlawing pigeon abuse and giving pigeons specific protection under the law. No living creature, or any species, should be abused.
Dear Prime Minister
Please keep your promise, made on Holocaust Memorial Day to “fight against all forms of hatred and prejudice, wherever they are found” by outlawing and stopping pigeon abuse in our parks, streets and public places, and giving pigeons special and specific protection under the new Animal Welfare Sentience laws and the Action Plan for Animal Welfare. It is unacceptable that pigeon abuse exists in our “Nation of Animal Lovers”.
3. Please sign and share my petition with family and friends. Let’s reach 10,000 signatures:-
4. Hear the song, “Please be Nice to Pigeons”:-
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=pWbqyExGnGk
5. Ask your MP to protect pigeons, specifically, under the new Animal Welfare Sentience laws and Action Plan for Animal Welfare, at:-
writetothem.com
6. Consider signing the petition by Patrick Driscall to reduce the use of cruel bird deterrents, such as spikes and netting, on buildings:-
You can read more and sign the petition here:
Petition Link
7. Read how Winkie, a carrier pigeon during WW2, saved lives and was the first recipient of the PDSA Dickin Medal.
In February 1942, a badly damaged RAF bomber ditched into the North Sea. It had been hit by enemy fire and was more than 100 miles from home.
Struggling in freezing waters, and unable to radio an accurate position back to base, the crew of four men faced a cold and lonely death.
But as the aircraft went down, the crew had managed to salvage their secret weapon - a carrier pigeon. The blue chequered hen bird, called Winkie, was set free in the hope she could fly home to its loft in Broughty Ferry, near Dundee, and alert air base colleagues to their predicament.
During World War II, carrier pigeons were routinely carried by planes, ships and submarines for this very eventuality.
Winkie did make it home, after flying for 120 miles, and was discovered, exhausted and covered in oil by her owner, George Ross, who immediately informed the RAF in Fife.
The pigeon was not carrying a message, but the RAF were able to calculate the position of the downed aircraft using the time difference between the plane's ditching and the arrival of the bird - taking into account the wind direction and the impact of the oil on Winkie's feathers to her flight speed.
A rescue mission was launched and the men were found within 15 minutes.
Winkie became the toast of the air base, with a dinner held in her honour. A year later, she became the first animal to receive the Dickin Medal - named after PDSA's founder, Maria Dickin, for "delivering a message under exceptional difficulties".
More than 60 animals have received the Dickin Medal, including 18 dogs, three horses and one cat. But pigeons still rule the roost, with 32 being awarded medals, between 1943 and 1949.
A photo of Winkie is shown above.