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Joe, the American trans-Pacific pigeon is on death row, after cheating Quarantine


onetrack

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Well, here's todays chuckle. Joe, a racing pigeon from the U.S., got blown off course, and appears to have hitched a ride on an ocean-going freighter, and flew into a blokes backyard in Melbourne, obviously looking for a few breadcrumbs.

 

https://www.perthnow.com.au/news/offbeat/acting-pm-michael-mccormack-suggests-joe-the-pigeon-could-be-killed-after-flying-into-melbourne-from-the-us-ng-b881770298z

 

But he's an invader, a bio-security breacher, and he has to die! I'm amused by this approach. What is the difference between Joe, and the millions of other migratory birds, who actually fly massive distances, from say, the likes of Russia to Tasmania?

 

https://www.abc.net.au/news/2018-02-02/five-migratory-birds-to-spot-in-tasmania/9384082

 

I reckon pigeons are the equivalent of the cockroaches of the bird world - they're everywhere, you can't reduce their numbers much, their breeding ability is enormous, and their cleverness and cunning and navigating ability is outstanding.

 

I've seen pigeons figure out how they could access the crumbs in an outside eating area of a cafe, after they were continually chased away, after flying in directly to the food area.

They figured out they could land at the rear of a back lane to the cafe, then scamper up the side lane on foot, to the food area, and they wouldn't be noticed as much. It worked for a while for them.

 

I reckon Joe should be given a period in quarantine, and a reprieve for his sterling efforts. After all, one more pigeon here, is nothing compared to the millions we already have here - and besides, we owe them something for their help in Wartime.

 

Edited by onetrack
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Well, now the story has taken an abrupt and mysterious turn- with the Americans claiming the pigeon is not one of theirs, the legband number is forged, and Joe really is a plain old Aussie pigeon!

 

I don't understand how we could have a local pigeon looking so emaciated? Are the outside eating areas in Victoria now so deserted, that even a pigeon can't get a decent feed?

 

https://www.abc.net.au/news/2021-01-15/fake-us-leg-band-may-get-joe-the-pigeon-reprieve-biosecurity/13061544

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2 hours ago, onetrack said:

What is the difference between Joe, and the millions of other migratory birds, who actually fly massive distances, from say, the likes of Russia to Tasmania?

In Australia the Environment Protection and Biodiversity Conservation Act 1999 (EPBC Act) provides for protection of migratory species as a matter of national environmental significance. The EPBC Act prohibits a person taking an action that has, will have, or is likely to have, a significant impact on a listed migratory species unless the Minister for the Environment has given approval.

 

For over 30 years, Australia has played an important role in international cooperation to conserve migratory birds in the East Asian - Australasian Flyway (the Flyway), entering into bilateral migratory bird agreements with Japan in 1974, China in 1986 and most recently the Republic of Korea in 2007. Each of these agreements provides for the protection and conservation of migratory birds and their important habitats, protection from take or trade except under limited circumstances, the exchange of information, and building cooperative relationships.

Birds listed on the annexes to these three agreements, together with those on Appendices I or II of the Bonn Convention, must also be placed on the migratory species list under the Environment Protection and Biodiversity Conservation Act 1999 (EPBC Act).

 

Unfortunately, pigeons are not migratory birds, so I refer you to here: https://www.socialaustralia.com.au/topic/1372-food-and-cooking-tips-and-tricks/?tab=comments#comment-48329

 

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Well, Joe has been saved, the Dept of A.W.& E has carried out its own checks, and determined the leg band is a fake American one, and Joe is just an ordinary Aussie feral pigeon. So he's free to roam, and go shXX on more statues.

 

https://www.perthnow.com.au/news/offbeat/joe-the-pigeon-to-be-spared-after-the-federal-government-concluded-he-was-likely-an-australian-bird-ng-b881771478z

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