A dog and a pigeon might seem like unlikely friends, but Oscar and Pipi are inseparable when they go for walks by the beach.
That’s because Oscar the pigeon was hand-raised by documentary maker Barry Ion and now thinks he’s a human, even treating his own kind with ‘disdain’.
The animal best mates could be seen playing on the grass overlooking Sydney’s South Maroubra Beach in a video their owner made.
Oscar the pigeon was hand-raised by humans and now thinks he’s one too, even treating his own kind with ‘disdain’
Oscar’s best friend is Pipi the dog (L) and they love to walk together in parks overlloking Sydney South Maroubra Beach, much to the bemusement of passersby
Oscar spent more time walking around than flying and at one point the bird even jumped on to Mr Ion’s foot.
‘All Oscar’s known is humans since he was a small chick that fell out of a nest a year ago. We brought him home and fed him through a dropper,’ Mr Ion said.
‘He a real larrikin who likes jumping on your feet, shoulders and head and pecking your ears.’
Mr Ion said Oscar and his nine-year-old pup Pipi love to walk together around the park, much to the bemusement of passersby.
Nine-year-old Pipi might seem like an unlikely playmate for a pigeon but the two have spent a lot of time together and become friends
The pair will playfight with each other, Oscar flapping his wings and Pipi growling
The ‘larrikin’ bird also likes jumping on people’s feet, shoulders and head and pecking their ears
‘When animals are living in close proximity they tend to get to know each other and see each other as friends,’ he said.
‘They have a kind of symbiotic relationship where they will playfight with each other, Oscar flapping his wings and Pipi growling, but it’s just for fun.’
‘He even jumps on Pipi’s back and rides on the back of my cats, and they don’t mind.’
Another of the precocious bird’s favourite pastimes is to slide down car windscreens, often a dozen times on neighbouring cars.
Documentary maker Barry Ion (pictured with Pipi and his sister) rescued Oscar and fed him with a dropper when he was a chick
Oscar lives in a cage on Mr Ion’s verandah and is so territorial he will roughly dispatch other inquisitive pigeons who take a peek
Mr Ion said Oscar was well-known in Marobra and neighbouring beaches like Coogee and Bondi with locals often finding him far from home, but always comes back
Oscar lives in a cage on Mr Ion’s verandah and is so territorial he will dispatch other inquisitive pigeons who take a peek.
‘He gets in there, roughs them up, slam dunks their head into his water dish and throws them out the door,’ Mr Ion said.
Mr Ion said Oscar was well-known in Marobra and neighbouring beaches like Coogee and Bondi with locals often finding him far from home.
‘I can take him anywhere and he’ll fly home,’ he said.
Oscar even jumps on Pipi’s back and rides on the back of Mr Ion’s cats, and they don’t mind
Another of the precocious bird’s favourite pastimes is to slide down car windscreens, often a dozen times on neighbouring cars