Stowaway baby pigeons rescued by HMS Queen Elizabeth sailors

The baby pigeons discovered onboard HMS Queen Elizabeth were flown ashore to be looked after by the RSPCA (Ministry of Defence/PA) Credit: Press Association Images

  • Watch the video of the chicks below

Two baby pigeons who stowed away onboard the Royal Navy aircraft carrier HMS Queen Elizabeth have been flown back ashore to be looked after by the RSPCA.

The chicks, nicknamed “carrier pigeons” by the crew, were discovered in a hidden nest on Britain’s biggest warship soon after it left Portsmouth Naval Base on Saturday.

The pair of motherless birds, who have been named F-35 and Lightning after the fighter jets which are to be tested during the ship’s deployment to the USA, are now being cared for by the RSPCA.

The birds were flown to shore by navy helicopter Credit: Ministry of Defence/PA

The birds were then taken by a navy Merlin MK4 helicopter from 845 Naval Air Squadron heading back to RNAS Yeovilton, Somerset, where they were handed over to the RSPCA to be cared for at its rescue centre in West Hatch near Taunton.