{"id":8347,"date":"2026-04-30T22:49:36","date_gmt":"2026-04-30T21:49:36","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/pe-ts.fun\/?p=8347"},"modified":"2026-04-30T22:49:36","modified_gmt":"2026-04-30T21:49:36","slug":"postal-pigeons-secretly-accompany-daily-deliveries","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/pe-ts.fun\/?p=8347","title":{"rendered":"Postal pigeons secretly accompany daily deliveries"},"content":{"rendered":"<p> <br \/>\n<\/p>\n<div data-article-body=\"true\">\n<p class=\"mb-4 text-lg md:leading-8 break-words\">A family of pigeons has been rescued from beneath a postal van after secretly accompanying daily deliveries for more than three weeks.<\/p>\n<p class=\"mb-4 text-lg md:leading-8 break-words\">Louise Thomas, a Royal Mail worker in Nailsea, north Somerset, said the birds had gone undetected until Saturday when the mother was spotted trying to climb underneath.<\/p>\n<p class=\"mb-4 text-lg md:leading-8 break-words\">Local rescue team Curious Critters was called to remove two babies, known as squabs, and an adult female. A spokesperson said all three birds were &#8220;in good health&#8221;.<\/p>\n<p class=\"mb-4 text-lg md:leading-8 break-words\">The spokesperson said: &#8220;Given pigeons sit on their eggs for around 18 days, and the squabs are at least three weeks old, they have been under there a long time.&#8221;<\/p>\n<p class=\"mb-4 text-lg md:leading-8 break-words\">The birds have been transported to the charity&#8217;s rehabilitation aviary in Backwell where they will be safely released together once ready.<\/p>\n<figure class=\"relative mb-4\">\n<div class=\"relative\"><img alt=\"The underside of the postal van where two pigeons can be seen peeking out from machinery in the dark.\" loading=\"lazy\" width=\"960\" height=\"540\" decoding=\"async\" data-nimg=\"1\" class=\"rounded-lg\" style=\"color:transparent\" src=\"https:\/\/s.yimg.com\/ny\/api\/res\/1.2\/THaC7rc8V9XpIFxzYqRn6w--\/YXBwaWQ9aGlnaGxhbmRlcjt3PTk2MDtoPTU0MDtjZj13ZWJw\/https:\/\/media.zenfs.com\/en\/bbc_us_articles_995\/52b919a046bfc0f5396ac2e10b216819\"\/><button aria-label=\"View larger image\" class=\"group absolute bottom-0 size-full\" data-ylk=\"elm:expand;itc:1;sec:image-lightbox;slk:lightbox-open;\"><span class=\"absolute bottom-3 right-3 rounded-full bg-primary p-3 opacity-100 shadow-elevation-3 transition-opacity duration-300 group-hover:block group-hover:opacity-100 md:p-[17px] lg:bottom-6 lg:right-6 lg:bg-primary\/90 lg:p-5 lg:opacity-0 lg:shadow-none\"><svg xmlns=\"http:\/\/www.w3.org\/2000\/svg\" width=\"24\" height=\"24\" viewbox=\"0 0 24 24\" aria-hidden=\"true\" focusable=\"false\" class=\"flex-none size-4 -scale-x-100 text-primary lg:size-6 [&amp;_path]:fill-current\"><path fill=\"currentColor\" d=\"M3.1 3.1V11h1.8V6.314l5.392 5.393 1.415-1.414L6.313 4.9H11V3.1zm17.8 17.8V13h-1.8v4.686l-5.393-5.393-1.415 1.414 5.393 5.393H13v1.8z\"\/><\/svg><\/span><\/button><dialog aria-label=\"Modal Dialog\" aria-modal=\"true\" class=\"fixed bottom-0 left-0 right-0 top-0 z-4 size-full max-h-none max-w-none bg-primary hidden\"\/><\/div><figcaption class=\"relative text-sm mt-1 pr-2.5\">\n<p>Volunteers think the birds probably nested under the van because it was warm and dry [Louise Thomas]<\/p>\n<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n<p class=\"mb-4 text-lg md:leading-8 break-words\">Two volunteers from Curious Critters, Sarah and Emma, said they had to lift the van with an A-frame to get underneath it before they found the birds peering out from behind the machinery.<\/p>\n<p class=\"mb-4 text-lg md:leading-8 break-words\">&#8220;The gap they had nestled into was extremely narrow and right at the back of the chassis,&#8221; they said.<\/p>\n<p class=\"mb-4 text-lg md:leading-8 break-words\">The trio were carefully removed and put into a carrier to be transported to the aviary together where they have continued to be fed by the mother.<\/p>\n<p class=\"mb-4 text-lg md:leading-8 break-words\">&#8220;Surprisingly all three were clean and in excellent health,&#8221; Emma said.<\/p>\n<p class=\"mb-4 text-lg md:leading-8 break-words\">&#8220;The squabs&#8217; crops [esophagus] were full so the parents have been feeding them well.&#8221;<\/p>\n<h2 class=\"mb-4 text-xl font-bold md:text-2xl\">More from Bristol<\/h2>\n<p class=\"mb-4 text-lg md:leading-8 break-words\">A Royal Mail spokesperson said the birds must have made the 3.5-mile (5km) postal van journey between the Nailsea delivery office and Flax Bourton every day.<\/p>\n<p class=\"mb-4 text-lg md:leading-8 break-words\">&#8220;A colleague at our Nailsea delivery office spotted a bird trying to get underneath one of our vans and, after taking a closer look, realised a small nest had been tucked away there for a while,&#8221; the spokesperson said.<\/p>\n<p class=\"mb-4 text-lg md:leading-8 break-words\">&#8220;It&#8217;s not something we see every day but we&#8217;re really glad it was spotted and that the birds could be safely rehomed.&#8221;<\/p>\n<figure class=\"relative mb-4\">\n<div class=\"relative\"><img alt=\"A close-up shot showing a person wearing a green jumper and grey work trousers. They are holding a small grey squab with fluffy yellow and grey feathers and they are gently stroking its head.\" loading=\"lazy\" width=\"960\" height=\"540\" decoding=\"async\" data-nimg=\"1\" class=\"rounded-lg\" style=\"color:transparent\" src=\"https:\/\/s.yimg.com\/ny\/api\/res\/1.2\/qbGlTmz1sS6cWPmv.qVXLw--\/YXBwaWQ9aGlnaGxhbmRlcjt3PTk2MDtoPTU0MDtjZj13ZWJw\/https:\/\/media.zenfs.com\/en\/bbc_us_articles_995\/7093933106cd70aa371cee7ff8c916cf\"\/><button aria-label=\"View larger image\" class=\"group absolute bottom-0 size-full\" data-ylk=\"elm:expand;itc:1;sec:image-lightbox;slk:lightbox-open;\"><span class=\"absolute bottom-3 right-3 rounded-full bg-primary p-3 opacity-100 shadow-elevation-3 transition-opacity duration-300 group-hover:block group-hover:opacity-100 md:p-[17px] lg:bottom-6 lg:right-6 lg:bg-primary\/90 lg:p-5 lg:opacity-0 lg:shadow-none\"><svg xmlns=\"http:\/\/www.w3.org\/2000\/svg\" width=\"24\" height=\"24\" viewbox=\"0 0 24 24\" aria-hidden=\"true\" focusable=\"false\" class=\"flex-none size-4 -scale-x-100 text-primary lg:size-6 [&amp;_path]:fill-current\"><path fill=\"currentColor\" d=\"M3.1 3.1V11h1.8V6.314l5.392 5.393 1.415-1.414L6.313 4.9H11V3.1zm17.8 17.8V13h-1.8v4.686l-5.393-5.393-1.415 1.414 5.393 5.393H13v1.8z\"\/><\/svg><\/span><\/button><dialog aria-label=\"Modal Dialog\" aria-modal=\"true\" class=\"fixed bottom-0 left-0 right-0 top-0 z-4 size-full max-h-none max-w-none bg-primary hidden\"\/><\/div><figcaption class=\"relative text-sm mt-1 pr-2.5\">\n<p>The rescue team described the babies as well-fed and &#8220;in excellent health&#8221; [Curious Critters]<\/p>\n<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n<p class=\"mb-4 text-lg md:leading-8 break-words\">The rescue team described pigeons as &#8220;resourceful&#8221;.<\/p>\n<p class=\"mb-4 text-lg md:leading-8 break-words\">They said they thought the nest had been made on the internal framework because it was &#8220;warm, dry and safe from predators&#8221;.<\/p>\n<p class=\"mb-4 text-lg md:leading-8 break-words\">A spokesperson said: &#8220;We&#8217;ve heard of many animals nesting or getting trapped in or under vehicles but never for this amount of time and not only surviving but thriving.<\/p>\n<p class=\"mb-4 text-lg md:leading-8 break-words\">&#8220;Once the juveniles are fully independent and flying well they will all be released and will hopefully find a better place to nest in the future.&#8221;<\/p>\n<p class=\"mb-4 text-lg md:leading-8 break-words\"><em>Follow BBC Bristol on <\/em><a data-yga=\"{\" ylinkelement=\"\" href=\"https:\/\/www.facebook.com\/BristolBBC\/\" rel=\"nofollow noopener\" target=\"_blank\" data-ylk=\"elm:link;elmt:article_link;slk:Facebook;itc:0;sec:content-canvas\" class=\"link \"><em>Facebook<\/em><\/a><em>, <\/em><a data-yga=\"{\" ylinkelement=\"\" href=\"https:\/\/twitter.com\/BBCBristol\" rel=\"nofollow noopener\" target=\"_blank\" data-ylk=\"elm:link;elmt:article_link;slk:X;itc:0;sec:content-canvas\" class=\"link \"><em>X<\/em><\/a><em> and <\/em><a data-yga=\"{\" ylinkelement=\"\" href=\"https:\/\/www.instagram.com\/bbcbristol\/\" rel=\"nofollow noopener\" target=\"_blank\" data-ylk=\"elm:link;elmt:article_link;slk:Instagram;itc:0;sec:content-canvas\" class=\"link \"><em>Instagram<\/em><\/a><em>. Send your story ideas to us on email or via <\/em><a data-yga=\"{\" ylinkelement=\"\" href=\"https:\/\/bbc.in\/47DEoQy\" rel=\"nofollow noopener\" target=\"_blank\" data-ylk=\"elm:link;elmt:article_link;slk:WhatsApp on 0800 313 4630;itc:0;sec:content-canvas\" class=\"link \"><em>WhatsApp on 0800 313 4630<\/em><\/a><em>.<\/em><\/p>\n<h2 class=\"mb-4 text-xl font-bold md:text-2xl\">More stories like this<\/h2>\n<h2 class=\"mb-4 text-xl font-bold md:text-2xl\">Related Internet Links<\/h2>\n<\/div>\n<p><script async src=\"\/\/platform.twitter.com\/widgets.js\" charset=\"utf-8\"><\/script><script async src=\"\/\/www.instagram.com\/embed.js\"><\/script><br \/>\n<br \/><br \/><\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"<p>A family of pigeons has been rescued from beneath a postal van after secretly accompanying daily deliveries for more than three weeks. Louise Thomas, a Royal Mail worker in Nailsea, north Somerset, said the birds had gone undetected until Saturday when the mother was spotted trying to climb underneath. Local rescue team Curious Critters was [&hellip;]<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":1,"featured_media":8348,"comment_status":"open","ping_status":"open","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"footnotes":""},"categories":[6],"tags":[13192,13197,13204,1357,1055,4630,349,335,13198,13193,2957,7408,1983,475,13202,3227,297,13200,1071,67,66,13191,13195,13190,13194,3016,76,8070,1337,1594,13196,13199,2275,13201,3183,13203,47,12045,10468,2075,459],"class_list":["post-8347","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","has-post-thumbnail","hentry","category-pets-news","tag-accompany","tag-accompany-daily","tag-aviary","tag-babies","tag-birds","tag-critters","tag-curious","tag-daily","tag-daily-deliveries","tag-deliveries","tag-delivery","tag-emma","tag-excellent","tag-health","tag-louise","tag-mail","tag-mother","tag-nailsea","tag-nest","tag-pe-ts-fun","tag-pets-news","tag-pigeons","tag-pigeons-secretly","tag-postal","tag-postal-pigeons","tag-released","tag-rescue","tag-royal","tag-safely","tag-secretly","tag-secretly-accompany","tag-spokesperson","tag-spotted","tag-squabs","tag-team","tag-thomas","tag-time","tag-transported","tag-volunteers","tag-warm","tag-weeks"],"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/pe-ts.fun\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/posts\/8347","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/pe-ts.fun\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/pe-ts.fun\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/pe-ts.fun\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/users\/1"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/pe-ts.fun\/index.php?rest_route=%2Fwp%2Fv2%2Fcomments&post=8347"}],"version-history":[{"count":0,"href":"https:\/\/pe-ts.fun\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/posts\/8347\/revisions"}],"wp:featuredmedia":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/pe-ts.fun\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/media\/8348"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/pe-ts.fun\/index.php?rest_route=%2Fwp%2Fv2%2Fmedia&parent=8347"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/pe-ts.fun\/index.php?rest_route=%2Fwp%2Fv2%2Fcategories&post=8347"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/pe-ts.fun\/index.php?rest_route=%2Fwp%2Fv2%2Ftags&post=8347"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}