Do the pigeons of Madeenah bid farewell to the Ka’bah before they die?
Question

                I heard one of the pilgrims who visited the House of Allaah say that any pigeon of Madeenah, when the time of its death approaches, flies to Makkah and soars above the Ka’bah as a farewell, then it dies after flying a few miles away. Is this true or not?
Praise be to Allah.There is nothing special about 
          the pigeons of Madeenah or Makkah , and they are no different from any 
          other pigeons, apart from the fact that it is haraam to hunt them or 
          disturb them when one is in ihraam for Hajj or ‘Umrah or not, so long 
          as one is within the haram (sanctuary) of Makkah or Madeenah. If one 
          goes outside the limits of the sanctuary, then it is permissible to 
          hunt them for those who are not in ihraam for Hajj or ‘Umrah, because 
          Allaah says (interpretation of the meaning):  
        “O 
          you who believe! Kill not the game while you are in a state of Ihraam 
          [for Hajj or ‘Umrah (pilgrimage)]…”
[al-Maa’idah 5:95] 
-- and because the Prophet  (peace 
          and blessings of Allaah be upon him) said: “Allaah has made Makkah a 
          sanctuary and fighting in it has not been made lawful for anybody before 
          me or after me, except for one hour of one day [i.e., on the day of 
          the Conquest of Makkah – Translator]. Its thorns shall not be cut, its 
          trees shall not be chopped down, and its animals shall not be disturbed…” 
          (Narrated by al-Bukhaari).  
And he  (peace and blessings of 
          Allaah be upon him) said: “Ibraaheem made Makkah a sanctuary and I have 
          made Madeenah a sanctuary, the area between its two tracts of black 
          stones. Its trees should not be cut down and its animals should not 
          be hunted.” (Narrated by Muslim). 
 Whoever claims that the pigeons of Madeenah fly to 
          Makkah when the time of their death approaches and fly over the Ka’bah 
          is an ignorant person who is making a claim that has no basis of truth. 
          No one knows when any creature will die except Allaah. Allaah says (interpretation 
          of the meaning): 
“… and 
          no person [lit. no soul] knows in what land he will die…”
[Luqmaan 31:34] 
 Bidding farewell to the Ka’bah is only done by doing 
          Tawaaf al-Wadaa’ (Farewell 
          Tawaaf) when one has performed Hajj or ‘Umrah. The claim that pigeons 
          know when they will die and that they bid farewell to the Ka’bah by 
          flying over it is a false claim, which no one would dare to say but 
          an ignorant person who fabricates lies against Allaah and His slaves. 
          And Allaah is the One Whose help we seek. 
 And Allaah is the Source of strength. May Allaah 
          bless our Prophet Muhammad and his family and companions, and grant 
          them peace.