AWM’s Memorial Hall pigeon
Julia Banim, Pigeon Who Used Poppies To Make Nest Welcomes Baby At War Memorial, Unilad, 30 November 2019
A poppy pinching pigeon who flew into hearts across the world has now welcomed a sweet little baby bird into her one-of-a-kind nest.
The Australian War Memorial has shared an adorable photograph of the newly hatched arrival cosied up in the mother pigeon’s bright red nest. The nest itself is made up of poppies nicked by the pigeon from the Australian War Memorial’s tomb of the unknown soldier.
The disappearance of the poppies was initially a mystery, however the pigeon was eventually clocked as the culprit after a maintenance worker discovered her nest in an alcove above a stained glass window.
Now her bundle of feathery joy is finally here – snuggled up tight at the historic location – and is quickly becoming a celebrity in their own right.
Welcoming the fluffy baby to the world via a Facebook post, a representative for The Australian War Memorial wrote:
Earlier in the month we shared a story of a pigeon that had been busy preparing for new life in a place that commemorates death, sacrifice and renewal.
Each day the pigeon would fly down to the Tomb of the Unknown Australian Soldier to steal poppies, carefully crafting a nest in the lead-up to Remembrance Day in an alcove above the stained-glass window of a wounded Australian soldier.
People have fallen beak over wings for this little one, and have praised the mother pigeon for being such a good, resourceful mama.