FOUR IF BY SEA

For the Birds

The story of a wayward pigeon that stole hearts at one local watering hole

By Amanda McDanel

On a cold winter night, several friends gathered in a secluded corner of Avalon Pier to tell a few tales. This sort of comradery isn’t unusual on any given night, as the pier’s bar often draws a colorful crowd who like to belly up for But the Davises made some cold brews in the company of kindred spirits. Akin sure Charlie wouldn’t forget to the Island of Misfit Toys, the pier beckons to a variety his forever home at the pier, too. of castaways – and there’s always a seat at the bar for In light of pigeons’ internal homing training him to collect bills those salty enough to seek it. ability, Aubrey made sure to carefully place and punch (or, in his case, poke)

In August of 2019 this held even more true, as Charlie in a cage to make a trip to the pier every day in holes in drink cards during special “Wednesdays with an inebriated pirate (of sorts) stumbled into the bar order to acclimate him to the local landscape. Charlie.” Once, Charlie even stood in for security when a clasping a plucky creature that had just been discovered And slowly but surely, Charlie became not only the patron indulged too much and tried to take a nap under underneath the pier. Only days old, the strange looking pier mascot, but also a valuable member of the Avalon the pier – incensed, Charlie flew down and landed on the pigeon had fallen from his nest and Pier crew. Upon entering the pier, a gentleman’s ankle bracelet in order to peck him awake. plummeted into an entirely new place hand-painted sign read “Beware of By October 2020, Charlie had built up some extra to call home. the Friendly Pigeon” to announce winter weight and his new full stature was catching the

Rescued initially by the bartenders, Once, Charlie even stood Charlie’s presence to newcomers. eyes of several feathered females – leading Charlie to whose animal-loving instincts told them that this was a special bird, the pigeon dubbed “Charlie” was quickly in for security when a patron indulged too much Fully recuperated and growing at a rapid rate, Charlie could now make the trip to the pier from the Davises do what any young adolescent male naturally does: He started bringing his girlfriends home from the pier for dinner with the parents. The Davises continued to put the subject of a frantic phone call to and tried to take a nap by flying solo as well, and he used out food for him and his feathery flavor of the week in Aubrey Davis, a Kill Devil Hills resident who liked to frequent the pier after under the pier – incensed, those visits to satisfy his craving for human interaction. hopes that Charlie would indeed (and quite literally) spread his wings to fly. work. From pigeons to pelicans, Charlie flew down and Whether he perched atop the Alas, Mother Nature had other plans for our hero. Aubrey – a brewery owner by trade – had long since earned a reputation landed on the gentleman’s mechanical Pirate Zoltar to watch as people’s fortunes were dealt or After enjoying a routine afternoon snack at the Davises, Charlie fell victim to a Cooper’s Hawk that was searching as a local rehabber of the winged set. ankle bracelet in order to he descended down to the beach to for a snack of his own. The neighbors who witnessed Unable to resist, Aubrey immediately took Charlie home peck him awake. mingle with families sunning in the sand, he was a consummate ham. He Charlie’s unfortunate ending could confirm that all that remained were a few feathers on the driveway and a hole to nurse him back to health. With especially liked to pose for pictures in the heart of a rowdy group of comrades. the help of his wife, the couple fed with the ladies – though it was most While the pier crew at Avalon may never be the same, a Charlie with baby food syringes, took him on daily walks often while sitting on their heads. memorial celebration is planned post-pandemic to honor with their three dogs, and provided him with a his own The bartenders treated him like a fellow barback, the memory of what was, essentially, a wayward seagull special perch right inside their home. teaching him how to fling coasters at customers and who captured the true spirit of our local shores.