It’s the forgotten flock of Flushing Meadow Park.
More than two dozen helpless albino ringneck doves — presumably released into the wilds of Queens as part of a wedding celebration — were clinging to life yesterday in a stand of trees after surviving a weekend of storms, heat and predators.
“People are looking to celebrate something joyful, and here they have birds that have never flown released into the air. They have no knowledge of how to find food, and they will literally starve to death,” said Rita McMahon of the Wild Bird Fund.
The birds were found Saturday in a tree near the park and next to the New York Hall of Science, numbering as many as 45 at the start of the weekend.
McMahon said volunteers had managed to capture about 15 of the birds on Sunday. The birds will be evaluated by the Wild Bird Fund and sent to homes.
By yesterday afternoon, about 25 remained, some too weak to fly back up into the trees after falling from branches in Sunday’s brief storm.
George and Linda Axiotakis first reported the lost flock on Saturday morning.
“They’re really clueless, and they don’t know how to avoid predators,” George said. “This practice of letting them go at weddings is not cool.”
James Theurer, a Staten Island bird handler, said the vast majority of bird releases at weddings or other celebrations are done only with homing pigeons, like his, which have been trained to return to their coops.
But Theurer, who operates White Wings in the Sky, said there are “unscrupulous guys” who buy the relatively inexpensive doves at pet shops and release them at weddings.
“It’s not right,” Theurer said.
Mike Pastore of the city’s Animal Care and Control Center said a handler would be sent to check on the birds. Sick birds would be collected and tended to, but he said healthy birds have to be left where they are.
The birds were found a few blocks from Terrace on the Park, a restaurant and catering hall popular with wedding parties. A manager there said they prohibit bird releases.
McMahon said the doves, while nearly blind and helpless on their own, make good pets.
“They are wonderful, grateful and beautiful,” she said.