A week ago, some 9,000 birds were released from Peterborough, in eastern England, bound for the North East in what was supposed to be a three-hour race (yes, this is apparently a whole thing). But nearly a week later, The Sun reports that "thousands" of birds are still missing in "a ­Bermuda Triangle-style mystery."

https://theweek.com/news/1002007/thousands-of-pigeons-are-missing-in-england-in-a-bermuda-triangle-style-mystery

On the face of it the weather conditions across the country were good, there was nothing to suggest that any birds would struggle to get home.

'In fact in many parts the conditions were favourable and you might have expected some good times.

'But in the events thousands of birds simply didn't return and as yet are still to return, which of course is a concern to the owners and breeders.

'Something happened that disrupted the navigational abilities of the birds. We believe it may have had something to do with solar wind activity which can distort the earth's magnetic field.

'There is a theory that this is what the birds use to find their way home with such accuracy.

'There was certainly something happening because birds released from locations all over the country disappeared and we've had many many reports of strays since.

'It wasn't just in this country either, we've had reports of heavy losses in Portugal and in Belgium as well.

https://www.dailymail.co.uk/news/article-9721179/10-000-pigeons-VANISH-170-mile-race-Peterborough-North-Yorkshire.html