It was truly a group effort as Town of Cobourg staff came to the rescue after a mourning dove spotted tangled in string, stuck in a tree on Thursday, March 20, 2025.
The dove was spotted around 9 a.m. along Ontario Street by the Cobourg Public Library.
It was hanging from a tree approximately five metres above the ground.
Tim Pierce was walking his 12-year-old son, Magnus to the bus stop for school at approximately 9 a.m.
Magnus quickly told his father to call someone to get help for the bird.
Magnus’ mother Johanne posted to a photo of the dove on social media asking if anyone could help with a ladder.
Today’s Northumberland was sent the post and arrived shortly after 10 a.m.
The dove was helplessly hanging from the tree by its talons as its mate stayed close by in the tree.
A passing Municipal By-Law officer was waved over who contacted other town services.
Members of the Cobourg Fire Department, Municipal By-law and building maintenance staff worked together on a plan to bring the dove down to safety.
The plan was for firefighters to hold a tarp, while maintenance staff cut part of the branch off so the dove would fall into the tarp.
But the bird seemed to have other plans.
When it was eventually freed from the branch, it flew across the road to the west side of Ontario Street landing in front of the apartment building.
Using a blanket a bylaw officer quickly covered the bird to check for any injuries. There were no apparent injuries, but the dove had string entangled around its talons.
A Cobourg firefighters along with municipal bylaw carefully removed the string using a knife and at one point, the pointed end of a earring.
Within minutes the bird was free of the string and the bylaw officer released it.
The rescue was a group effort of town staff, and a youth who wanted to help and save a bird.
Author: Pete Fisher
Has been a photojournalist for over 30-years and have been honoured to win numerous awards for photography and writing over the years. Best selling author for the book Highway of Heroes - True Patriot Love
