The crash happened just as kids were filing out of the local primary school and so within minutes a small chorus of little ones had formed, flanked by their mums and dads. This circle of bemused faces stared down at the bird, unsure what to say or do. The kids were more definitive: “Daddy, she needs hospital, can we call an ambulance?” I took off my anorak, bent down and scooped the pigeon up into it. “Don’t worry, sweet, the nice man will look after her!” said one mum with a sigh of relief. I had become the ambulance for this pigeon that had just landed abruptly, against its will, as I had a few days before.