They were in a nest made of cable ties.
Published on July 1, 2026 at 2:17 PM
A group of construction workers was helping build a new waste incinerator plant in England when they ran into an unusual problem. After inspecting a ventilation pipe, they’d accidentally discovered a nest — with two baby pigeons nestled inside.
“The squabs were in a nest, of sorts, that their parents had built from plastic cable ties deep inside a ventilation pipe on top of a 50 [meter] high crane inside the new waste incineration plant,” Bal Dhamia, an animal rescue officer with the RSPCA, said in a press release. “The building had been sealed for ignition testing a few days earlier, which stopped the parent birds from returning to their young.”
After discovering the baby birds, the contractor supervisor contacted the RSPCA for help. The entire team was concerned for the well-being of the pigeons and wanted to get them relocated somewhere safe.
Dhamia went out to the plant and conferred with the workers to determine the best way to rescue the babies. After a little planning, Dhamia was able to safely secure them.
“I had to scale many flights of stairs and then scramble up to them,” Dhamia said. “I was able to scoop them out unharmed and take them into our care.”
The pigeons were brought to RSPCA’s Stapeley Grange Wildlife Centre to get the support they needed, and they’ll remain there until they’re able to be released.
Spring and summer are baby animal season, meaning it’s more common to come across young ones who need help, including pigeons. If you find a baby bird out of their nest, contact a vet or rescue that can either take the bird in or advise you on the best next steps.
The RSPCA offers advice on what to do if you find a baby pigeon here.