Exotic Bird Swallowed Up

Families and tourists in a London park were left shocked when a pigeon picked up and swallowed a pelican. The unusual wildlife spectacle in St James's Park was caught on camera by a local photographer who wishes to remain anominous in case of reprisals by low flying pigeon gangs. A common a garden pigeon had the unfortunate Eastern White pelican in its beak for more than 20 minutes before swallowing it whole.

An RSPB spokesman said: "It is almost unheard of for a pigeon to eat a pelican. Although he also confirmed he’d seen a pigeon smoke a pack of fish fingers once. Their diet should be strictly any crap left on the floor like chewing gum and cigarette butts. God help anyone who gets hit by that mother of a payload when it comes out.”

The photographer said: "The pelican was on the towpath preening itself, and there were a lot of tourists watching it. Then the bird got up and strolled along until it reached one of the pigeons, within seconds the pigeon grabbed the pelican in its beak. There was a bit of a struggle for about 20 minutes. The pelican only opened its mouth a couple of times. It was kicking and flapping the whole way down."

There were five pelicans living near Duck Island in St James's Park - four Eastern Whites and one Louisiana Brown. Unfortunately there are now only four pelicans left. There has been a spate of mysterious disappearances lately in the park all of which has coincided with an upsurge in Pigeons visiting the park. Pelicans were introduced into the park during King Charles II's reign as a gift from the Russian ambassador. No mention was made of when pigeons first introduced themselves to the park but I doubt they waited for an invite.

Last year an African Ostrich disappeared whilst on day release from an Ostrich farm. Ollie the 8 year old Ostrich was last seen when he was grazing in a field near the park. Jean Gosney, local house wife explained, “One minute this beautiful ostrich was there and then all of a sudden a group of mean looking pigeons descended upon the poor thing and the ostrich was a goner.”

Police are taking the matter seriously after it was confirmed that their mascot Joey, a white welsh mountain goat had mysteriously disappeared after talking to a flock of seagulls. We have spoken to their record label and they have stated that the band have nothing to do with the incident.