A couple in Queen Creek, Arizona, utilized dyed doves to announce the gender of their unborn child, an event that has drawn scrutiny from local wildlife rehabilitation professionals. The parents hired Sacred Dove Release to provide the birds for the celebration, which was reported by NBC 12 News on June 18. The birds were dyed bright blue to signify that the baby is a boy.
Monica Flores, the owner of Sacred Dove Release, stated that this was the first time she had performed such a request. She typically supplies doves for weddings and funerals. Flores described the concept as beautiful and asserted that she used non-toxic food coloring. She maintained that she would never endanger the animals and insisted the dye was safe.
Following the release, the vividly colored birds attracted the attention of residents near the Salt River. These individuals contacted Crystal White, who operates Crystal's Critter Haven, a local wildlife rehabilitation facility. White collected the birds but noted that she could not thoroughly remove the dye. She emphasized that the dyed birds do not blend into their natural environment, making them highly visible to predators.
White expressed strong concerns regarding the safety of the birds. She explained that birds possess sensitive respiratory systems, and inhaling or ingesting dye could cause harm. Despite these risks, the birds are reported to be healthy and have returned to their owners.
