Colin Pidgeon Catches Pigeon During Government Zoom Meeting

No pigeon, or indeed Pidgeon, was harmed in the incident at Stormont's finance committee.
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From toddlers strolling into view during interviews to all out war in a parish council meeting, the pivot to endless Zoom meetings during the pandemic has led to a growing archive of unexpected interruptions.

But a research officer named Colin Pidgeon catching a live pigeon halfway through a government meeting probably wasn’t one any of us had on our virtual meeting mishaps bingo cards.

In a moment now forever immortalised on Twitter, Pidgeon calmly interrupted a Wednesday meeting of the Northern Ireland Assembly’s Committee for Finance by announcing: “I’ve literally just caught a pigeon.”

Seconds later Pidgeon could be seen picking up the live pigeon – brought in by his pet cat – and apparently moving to release it through a window.

Deputy committee chairman Paul Frew suggested the view of Pidgeon’s screen should be expanded so members of the committee could get a better view of the incident, joking: “We’ll know what type of soup you’re eating tonight, Colin.”

Pigeon fans will be relieved to know that “no pigeon or indeed Pidgeon were harmed during this incident”, as confirmed by a spokesperson for the finance committee itself.

The Committee wishes to confirm no pigeon or indeed Pidgeon were harmed during this incident. https://t.co/emQY43hoK2

— NIAFinance (@NIAFinance) February 24, 2021

The research adviser was praised for his handling of the unexpected interruption, with Frew commenting: “You kept your composure the whole way through that – amazing.”

“I’ve never been interrupted by wildlife before,” Pidgeon insisted after retuning to his seat.

He later acknowledged the moment online, retweeting a picture of his cat with the caption: “Proud cat owning moment.”

Proud cat owning moment https://t.co/XgY9eWsHLP

— Colin Pidgeon (@baldypidge) February 24, 2021
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