Pigeon gets bird's eye view of surfing

SURF CITY, NC (WECT) - A pigeon got a bird's eye view of what it's like to be a surfer.

Steve Young, a photographer from Jacksonville, was photographing surfers on Tuesday, taking advantage of big waves churned up from Hurricane Gert when he captured an incredible shot.

A pigeon landed on Cody Leutgens' board while he was riding a wave in Surf City.

Young said he was on the Surf City Pier when he captured the shot.

Leutgens is the owner of Surf City Surf School and in a Facebook message, he detailed his experience with the bird.

Paddling out near the pier, I spotted him struggling in the water, assuming a fishing line wrapped his wing. While paddling alongside the poles, an old, since passed friend who had an affinity for wildlife and a knack for making the area a better place came to mind, so I felt compelled to inspect on his behalf. When I neared him, no lines were in sight and it seemed the bird was exhausted or maybe injured. He climbed aboard and rested a minute. I asked him if he was alright to go about his flight, but he didn't respond. A wave loomed, and Pidge perched on the nose of my vessel. We stroked into the swell with ease and he held his composure for the drop. At max speed, he performed a little cheater feather hang five, then settled back until we went through the pier towards the beach. I carried him on our board to a piling bearing a mini tide pool and he scooted into the little salty bath for more rest. Seemed to like it, so I went back in the ocean. When I ended my session, he'd since left his zone. Halfway back, there were a cluster of pigeons, all but one of which fled as myself and a fellow surfer passed. I noticed his flustered feathers and knew it was Pidge, the wave carrier pigeon. As I kneeled and set my board on the sand, he came over and gave a little nod of retirement from his surf career, greeting his board one last time. All in all, a good sesh with a new homie. Me, the TI surf community and the fella we lost some time ago would've all done the same for our surfing, flying comrade.

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