The World of Birds

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       Pigeon Collared as a Possible Chinese Spy Is Freed After 8 Months

       Animal rights activists in Mumbai celebrated an end to the “wrongful imprisonment” of a mystery bird that a detective concluded was probably a lost racer from Taiwan.

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       The pigeon was released on Tuesday from the veterinary hospital that had held it since it was found wandering in a port with Chinese writing on its wings. Credit...Anshuman Poyrekar/Hindustan Times, via Associated Press

       By Mujib Mashal and Hari Kumar

       Reporting from New Delhi

       Feb. 2, 2024, 9:12 a.m. ET

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       Suspicion of foreign espionage, cursive messages in ancient Chinese, a sensitive microchip — and a suspect that could not be stopped at the border.

       Ravindar Patil, the assistant Mumbai police sub-inspector assigned to the case, was scratching his head for answers. But first, he had to find a place to lock up the unusual captive.

       So he turned to a veterinary hospital in the Indian metropolis, asking it to retrieve a list of “very confidential and necessary” information about the suspect — a black pigeon caught lurking at a port where international vessels dock.

       “The police never came to check the pigeon,” said Dr. Mayur Dangar, the manager of the hospital.

       After eight months, the bird was finally set free this week, its innocence of spying for China long confirmed through crack detective work, but the jail doors flung open only after a newspaper report, repeated letters to the police by the veterinary hospital, and intervention from an animal rights group.

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       The group, PETA India, celebrated what it called the end of a “wrongful imprisonment.”

       “PETA India handles 1,000 calls a week of animal emergencies, but this was our first case of a suspected spy who needed to be freed,” said Meet Ashar, who leads the organization’s cruelty response division.

       How to Become a Birder

       Card 1 of 5

       Start from the basics. Begin with something foundational: Learn to identify a few of the birds most commonly seen near where you live. Digital tools like the Merlin Bird ID app can help. If you spot a bird, pay attention to things like the size, color, behavior, location and date. Binoculars and field guides might help, but are not necessary to get started.

       Pick a time. Any time. Early birders have the best chance of catching a lot of activity, but any time can be a good time to go birding. Even the early afternoon, often considered a challenging time to bird, can be good to spot certain species. Around dusk, many birds become more active again.

       Join a group. Connecting with people who share your interest in birds can allow you to break the ice. Try joining a local birding group for an outing, or go birding with at least one new person. You can start close to home, by checking the schedule at nearby parks or nature reserves. Or poke around on social media for upcoming events.

       Draw what you see. Try your hand at sketching birds as a way of deepening your observation skills. You can start by drawing a rough circle that will become the bird’s head. Then, add an oval twice the size for the body. From there, you can add details, color and shade.

       Listen closely. Many birders rely heavily on their ears to make identifications based on birds’ vocalizations. The Sound ID feature of the free Merlin Bird ID app can offer suggestions for which species are calling or singing around you. Beginners interested in refining this skill may want to tag along with a more experienced auditory birder.

       Mr. Ashar said the case had put the hospital’s staff members in a dilemma: They didn’t want to expose a healthy bird to the sick and injured, but they also couldn’t set it free because “it was such a high-profile case and the charge was so serious.”

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       Mujib Mashal is the South Asia bureau chief for The Times, helping to lead coverage of India and the diverse region around it, including Bangladesh, Sri Lanka, Nepal and Bhutan. More about Mujib Mashal

       Hari Kumar covers India, based out of New Delhi. He has been a journalist for more than two decades. More about Hari Kumar

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