The birdmen of Baghdad

  • Published
  • By Master Sgt. Scott Elliott
  • Air Force Print News
BAGHDAD INTERNATIONAL AIRPORT, Iraq --  Some airmen who routinely go into harm’s way to assist others, have taken another injured creature of the air under their wings.

The New York Air National Guard’s 101st Expeditionary Rescue Squadron has adopted a pigeon that was injured during the Operation Iraqi Freedom conflict.

According to Staff Sgt. Steve Sirois, an HH-60 Pave Hawk flight engineer, the 101st ERQS airmen took over the care and feeding of the bird when they replaced the 301st ERQS.

“The guys from the 301st (at Patrick Air Force Base, Fla.) nursed it back to health, and it’s been a pet ever since,” he said.

The pigeon, named Bird, has a homemade house attached to the side of the hardened aircraft shelter the airmen also call home.

While most of the 101st ERQS airmen actively see to Bird’s needs, Sirois takes it personally.

“I’m a bird lover,” he said. “When I was growing up, I hand-raised two cockatiels. This guy here, I’m trying to get (him) to warm up to me so I hand-feed (him) as much as I can.”

Bird can fly, but has never left his American rescuers.

“Hopefully the next unit that comes in here will be bird-friendly as well and will give him a good home,” Sirois said.