PERTH PIGEON RESCUE NOTICE BOARD
We have multiple baby pigeons and aviary pigeons available for adoption.
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Please note that we are currently experiencing an overwhelming number of enquiries, so please be patient with us. We are a small group of self-funded volunteers. You can help us immensely by safely containing the pigeon and, where possible, transporting it to the most appropriate location.
We are also in desperate need of more volunteers for transport and fostering. If you are interested in joining, please visit our Get Involved page. Thanks PPR Team.
What to Do If You Find a Sick, Injured or Lost Pigeon
1. Contain the pigeon
The first thing to do is contain the pigeon. You won't hurt the bird by picking it up and securing it safely. In fact, leaving it to fend for itself can put it at greater risk from predators and other dangers.
You are unlikely to get sick from handling a pigeon, but if you are concerned, you can use a towel or sheet to safely contain it.
Please place the pigeon in a well-ventilated box or animal carrier. If you don't have anything else available, even a shopping bag can help temporarily. We are much better able to help a pigeon that has already been contained. If you need to set a trap, you can put some seed, rolled oats or rice down and cover it with a washing basket propped up by a stick, attached to a string or fishing line. Then pull once the bird is under the basket.
Please try to contain the bird whenever possible. If you see an injured pigeon but leave it uncontained, the likelihood of us finding and saving it is much lower.
2. Fill out our contact form and send us a photo with your location
Once the pigeon is contained, please fill out our contact form and send us a photo separately via our email so we can identify the species, check for obvious injuries and see whether it has a leg band or tag. If you have found a dove, we will direct you to the closest wildlife centre, as they are better equipped to care for them.
Once you have completed the contact form, send us a photo of the bird and its location to our email. (our email is located on the bottom of our contact form).
We are a small group of volunteers, but we will share the photo and location in our group chat to see who is available to collect the bird if you have no transport.
If we are unavailable or you have no transport, please call WASR on (08) 6102 8464. All their details are listed in our Wildlife Centres section below.
If you can drive please take the pigeon to one of the pigeon-friendly centres listed below. Alternatively, you can contact us about dropping it off at our vet nurse's home in Melville or our main foster carer's home in Armadale.
5. Posting the bird on Facebook
Once you have taken photos of the bird, please post them to your local suburb community Facebook group, lost bird groups and to our Facebook group Perth Pigeon Rescue Community with the details and suburb.
We will most likely ask you to message our Facebook page for more information.
4. If the pigeon has a leg band
If the pigeon has a ring or band on its leg, please note down any letters or numbers you can see. This is most likely a lost racing pigeon or domestic pet.
Contact details for the Pigeon Racing Federation WA
Lost Birds PH: 6555 6873 or 0407195792 Email: mheedes@gmail.com
Wildlife Centres
If you have no transport and our team is not available, please contact Western Australian Seabird Rescue (WASR).
WASR phone number: (08) 6102 8464
Hours: 8 am–6 pm, seven days a week.
Email: info@wasr.org.au
WA Wildlife
172 Hope Road, Bibra Lake WA 6163
Mandurah Wildlife Rehabilitation Centre
1400 Old Coast Road, Dawesville WA 6211
Kanyana Wildlife Rehabilitation Centre
120 Gilchrist Road, Lesmurdie WA 6076
Darling Range Wildlife Shelter
Lot 800 Hayward Road, Martin WA 6110
Perth Wildlife Hospital
170 Camboon Road, Malaga WA 6090
About Us
Perth Pigeon Rescue (PPR) was started in July 2025 by a small group of dedicated volunteers who saw that there was a real gap in pigeon welfare in Perth and stepped up to help. PPR is the first group of its kind in Perth. Before it existed, lost, unwanted or injured pigeons often had very few options. Many were euthanised because suitable care was unavailable, and others were left to die without treatment.
One of the largest rescues PPR has undertaken involved 600+ abandoned pet pigeons from a single property in regional WA. The birds had been left without adequate food, water or housing and were living in poor conditions. PPR stepped in to rescue them, organise their care and find suitable homes. Taking responsibility for 600 birds at once was a huge undertaking for a small, newly formed volunteer group with limited resources.
Another major welfare issue PPR deals with is stringfoot. String, hair, fishing line and other materials can become tightly wrapped around a pigeon's feet and toes, causing painful swelling, infection, permanent injury and, in severe cases, death. Since the group formed, PPR volunteer Chloe has personally caught around 200 pigeons with stringfoot, with these birds receiving de-stringing, veterinary treatment, or both. Some of these birds have taken weeks to catch, but Chloe never gives up on them.
Since July 2025, PPR has rescued 1,400+ pigeons, with the number growing every day. These pigeons include injured, orphaned, lost and surrendered birds. The cost of rescuing these birds has totalled $25,000 with most of this being self-funded. This money has gone mainly towards veterinary treatment and the day-to-day costs involved in rescuing and caring for the birds. For a small grassroots organisation, this represents a significant personal and financial commitment from its volunteers.
PPR is also working to change the way people see pigeons. Their reputation as "pests" can make it easy to overlook their suffering, but being common does not make a life less valuable. They are intelligent, social and capable of experiencing pain, fear and distress. Pigeons have evolved alongside humans and rely on us in many ways. PPR provides advice to members of the public and encourages people to respond responsibly when they find a pigeon that needs help. They also promote responsible pigeon guardianship and adoption.
What makes PPR special is that it started with a small group of people who saw that pigeons were being overlooked and decided that they deserved better. PPR is showing that animal welfare should not depend on whether an animal is popular, expensive or even considered a pet. All animals deserve basic rights regardless of how some humans perceive them.
Take a look at some of the pigeons we have helped at PPR
Why Pigeons?
Domesticated over 5,000 years ago from wild rock doves, pigeons were valued companions to ancient civilisations such as the Egyptians, Romans, and Persians. Their natural homing ability made them essential for communication, trade, and delivering news, and they were carefully cared for and relied upon by people for centuries.
During World War I and World War II, pigeons played a critical role in saving lives by delivering messages when other communication methods failed. One of the most famous was Cher Ami, who helped rescue nearly 200 soldiers despite being badly injured. Many pigeons showed similar bravery and were even awarded medals for their service.
As technology advanced, pigeons were no longer needed and were gradually abandoned. The once trusted companions, they were left to survive on their own in cities. Today’s urban pigeons are the descendants of those loyal birds, and at Perth Pigeon Rescue, we believe they deserve respect, compassion and a second chance at life.
Cher Ami as photographed on April 22, 1919, shortly after arriving in the United States. Image courtesy of National Archives.
