A family of pigeons has been found hiding in a narrow gap underneath a Royal Mail van – after spending around three weeks secretly accompanying a delivery driver. 

Louise Thomas, who works for Royal Mail in Nailsea, Somerset, said the birds were only discovered on Saturday when the mother was spotted clambering back into her nest.

A rescue team called Curious Critters later found the female’s two babies, known as squabs, tucked away at the back of the van’s chassis.

All three of the birds were in ‘good health’, the rescue team said, after the mother laid and hatched her eggs in the ‘warm and dry’ vehicle. 

‘Given pigeons sit on their eggs for around 18 days, and the squabs are at least three weeks old, they have been there for a long time,’ Curious Critters added.

The mother initially managed to climb into the van after squeezing through a gap described as ‘extremely narrow’ on its underside.

Two volunteers from Curious Critters, named Sarah and Emma, said they had to lift the vehicle up with an A-frame in order to reach the birds’ nesting place. 

When the two women crawled underneath, they spotted the pigeons peering down at them from above. 

A family of pigeons has been found hiding in a narrow gap underneath a Royal Mail delivery van – after they spent three weeks secretly accompanying a driver

Two volunteers from Curious Critters, named Sarah and Emma, said they had to lift the van up with an A-frame in order to reach the birds’ nesting place

The mother initially managed to climb into the vehicle after squeezing through a gap described as ‘extremely narrow’ on its underside

Sarah and Emma said: ‘The gap they had nestled into was extremely narrow and right at the back of the chassis. 

‘Surprisingly all three were clean and in excellent health. The squabs’ crops were full so the parents have been feeding them well.’

The family have since been taken to Curious Critters’ rehabilitation aviary in Backwell, where the mother is still feeding her two babies. 

When they have recovered, the pigeons will be released together as a family.

In a post on Facebook, Royal Mail employee Ms Thomas estimated that the family had spent almost a month riding along with drivers dropping off packages.

She wrote: ‘I would like to say a huge thank you to the ladies at Curious Critters for coming to the rescue of this little family who had nested in the chassis of one of our vans!

‘The nest was built, the eggs laid and hatched and the kids brought up all in the chassis of the van, all unbeknownst to the staff until when they were heard!

‘They have been out on delivery every day for approximately three weeks according to the experts at Curious Critters. Safely rescued with thanks.’

A spokesperson for Royal Mail added: ‘A colleague at our Nailsea Delivery Office spotted a bird trying to get underneath one of our vans and, after taking a closer look, realised a small nest had been tucked away there for a while.

‘We got in touch with a local rescue team who came out and safely moved them to a better spot. It’s not something we see every day, but we’re really glad it was spotted and that the birds could be safely rehomed.’

Meanwhile Curious Critters said the pigeons chose to nest inside the van because it was ‘warm, dry and safe from predators’. 

A spokesperson said: ‘We’ve heard of many animals nesting or getting trapped in or under vehicles but never for this amount of time and not only surviving but thriving.

‘Once the juveniles are fully independent and flying well they will all be released and will hopefully find a better place to nest in the future.’