Joe the Pigeon
 Joe the Pigeon | |
| Species | Domestic pigeon |
|---|---|
| Breed | Turkish tumbler |
| Sex | Male |
| Nationality | Australia |
| Named after | Joe Biden |
Joe the Pigeon is a tumbler pigeon found in Melbourne, Australia and named after Joe Biden, who at the time was President-elect of the United States. According to initial reports, the pigeon was believed to have flown 13,000 kilometres (8,100 mi; 7,000 nmi) from Oregon to Melbourne in December 2020. The pigeon was identified based on a leg ring that matched that of a racing pigeon from Oregon that had disappeared two months earlier, though the ring was later found to be counterfeit. The pigeon was scheduled to be euthanised as a biosecurity risk, but was released by the Australian government after being determined unlikely to be of foreign origin.
Discovery and confinement
The pigeon was first noticed by Kevin Celli-Bird, a resident of Melbourne, Australia, when he saw the pigeon, "very weak and in an emaciated state", in his backyard on December 26, 2020.[1] While feeding Joe in an attempt to revitalise him, Celli-Bird noticed a ring on Joe's leg.[2] Celli-Bird traced the tag to an owner in Alabama who had last seen the bird after it flew off from a race in Oregon.[3] The pigeon was named 'Joe' by Celli-Bird after Joe Biden, due to the bird's alleged journey beginning in the United States.[4] It was speculated that Joe had crossed the distance on a container ship, as flying the 13,000 kilometres (8,100 mi; 7,000 nmi) from Oregon to Melbourne would have beaten the previous record for the longest bird flight at 12,000 kilometres (7,500 mi; 6,500 nmi).[5]
Celli-Bird was contacted by the Australian Department of Agriculture, Water and the Environment after Joe the Pigeon received press coverage in Australian media.[6] The Department stated that the pigeon would have to be captured and euthanised as a disease risk, which led to outcry against the Australian government.[7]Deputy Prime Minister of AustraliaMichael McCormack called the incident "bad luck": "If Joe has come in a way that has not met our strict biosecurity measures, then bad luck Joe, either fly home or face the consequences."[8] Politicians Andy Meddick and Martin Foley called for Joe to be quarantined instead of euthanised, with Meddick calling for the federal government to "take Joe off death row".[9]
Release
Deone Roberts of the American Racing Pigeon Union stated on January 15, 2021, that the leg ring found on Joe was "counterfeit and not traceable".[8] It was revealed that Joe is a Turkish tumbler, a breed bred for mid-air tricks rather than long-distance flight.[6] After an investigation, the Department stated that "Joe the Pigeon is highly likely to be Australian and does not present a biosecurity risk", granting him a pardon.[10][8] Celli-Bird stated that he has bought birdseed for Joe to eat: "As long as he’s happy to stay there I’ll let him stay and if he chooses to fly off, he can do that too."[6]
See also
References
- ^Zhuang, Yan (15 January 2021). "Joe the Pigeon Is Spared the Death Sentence in Australia". The New York Times. Retrieved 21 January 2021.
- ^Foster, Ally (14 January 2021). "Twist in bid to save Joe the pigeon that was thought to have flown from the US to Aus". news.com.au. Retrieved 21 January 2021.
- ^"Joe the pigeon spared by Australia after leg tag found to be fake". BBC News. 15 January 2021. Retrieved 21 January 2021.
- ^"Australia to kill US pigeon that crossed Pacific". BBC News. 14 January 2021. Retrieved 21 January 2021.
- ^Pappas, Stephanie (16 January 2021). "'Joe the Pigeon' gets reprieve from death, after leg band found to be fake". LiveScience. Retrieved 21 January 2021.
- ^ abcWebb, Carolyn (18 January 2021). "'It got totally out of control': the pigeon that won hearts globally". The Age. Retrieved 21 January 2021.
- ^"Explained: Why Australia has declared Joe the pigeon a biosecurity risk". The Indian Express. 19 January 2021. Retrieved 21 January 2021.
- ^ abcMcGuirk, Rod (14 January 2021). "Fake US leg band gets pigeon a reprieve in Australia". AP News. Associated Press. Retrieved 21 January 2021.
- ^Boseley, Matilda (15 January 2021). "Joe the pigeon's life spared after fake leg tag shows he's not from US". The Guardian. Retrieved 21 January 2021.
- ^Guzman, Joseph (15 January 2021). "Joe the pigeon will live after it's discovered he's likely an Aussie". The Hill. Retrieved 21 January 2021.
