A pigeon called MR CHIVERS.

Subject: A pigeon called MR CHIVERS. Tue Feb 22, 2011 12:45 pm

A sad, uneasy wild bird kept appearing in my yard. He was no more than a
humble pigeon, in many eyes, nothing but hated vermin. However, public
oppinion matters nothing to me, and I personally adore pigeons, AKA
the rock dove, the Bird of PEACE. This little guy always came alone to
my yard, most unusual for a pigeon. He would eat, but then sit on the
ground, fluffed up, with his head hanging low. I could see he was ill.
What of, I had no idea. However, I trundled off to my vets, explained
the situation regarding my wild visitor, and came away with a top-up
supply of basic birdy antibiotics. SO< how to administer said
medication...

I decided against trying to capture this wild beauty, but added the
antibiotic into food. Food that I would ONLY throw into my yard once all
the other wildies had been well fed. Chivers never ate with the
others, he always came alone, or waited till he WAS alone. One day, I
saw him desperately trying to shelter in one of my small bird feeders.
It was teeming down with heavy rain, and poor Chivers needed shelter. I
found a large cardboard box, and covered it with plasic and tape to
make it somewhat waterproof. In the box, I placed seed, corn, and
soaked wholemeal bread, and a dish of water.The seed and soaked bread
were laced with the medication. I was very unsure that Chivers would
come near the box, but within 10 minutes, he was in it! Sheltered from
pouring rain and rather high winds, Chivers settled into the box I
provided! despite his obvious weakness, he became quite aggressive if
any other pigeon tried to get too near his den! Within a few days, I saw
a different pigeon. He was mixing with the others, feeding with them,
he no longer sat huddled sadly on the floor when the rain poured.

I dont really know how it happened, but this lovely wild pigeon seemed
to know my voice. He was always first there as I called to my wildies
in the morning, as I threw out their food. He began to land on the
fence, very close to me. Then one day, as I had tried many times
before, I held my outstretched arm towards him. My palm was laden with
good food. Chivers, my wild friend, that beautiful bird of peace
cautiously fluttered onto my arm, walked to my wrist, and ate seed,
granary bread and corn, from my HAND!!!

This totally wild bird who had been so poorly and vulnerable, decided
to trust me. Even now, I cant quite believe it. I know I nursed him,
but I nursed him without capture, I nursed him from a distance. He is
still a wary bird, as all wild birds should be, and are. But now, when I
go into my yard in the morning, and I call his name, he is on the roof
of my shed, or on the fence very close to me, within maybe a minute.
He hasnt come to my arm for quite a while, but I dont mind. Because he
did ONCE. He trusted me, and showed it. He needent prove his trust ever
again, he did it once. I never intended to capture or trap him, I wanted him to remain free.
And I think he knew that.

Subject: Re: A pigeon called MR CHIVERS. Tue Feb 22, 2011 3:17 pm

That is a great story about Mr. Chivers, Annie. Smile

It's great that you were able to help him, even if from a distance. A pigeon called MR CHIVERS. 983488

He is still part of your flock?

Subject: Re: A pigeon called MR CHIVERS. Tue Feb 22, 2011 3:20 pm

Do you have any pictures of him? I love the story.

Subject: Re: A pigeon called MR CHIVERS. Tue Feb 22, 2011 3:35 pm

Lovely story! A pigeon called MR CHIVERS. 983488

So glad you were able to help him. And I echo Charis's question: "Do you have any pictures of him?" Smile

Subject: Re: A pigeon called MR CHIVERS. Tue Feb 22, 2011 6:08 pm

Hi, i DO have pictures of Mr Chivers somewhere, on one of my many photobucket accounts I think, and Im also pretty sure on a website or two. Theres not many, maybe 2 or 3, but Im certain i have one of him in his shelter box. He isnt part of my flock, I guess he never was, other than in my 'heart flock', and I have long since moved from the address where I lived then. I'll try a google search and see if I can find them, cos Id love to look at them again A pigeon called MR CHIVERS. 395766

He was just a nice, plain and simple, mid-grey feral. There have been so many over the years, Chivers, Dennis, Ian, Sunshine, Phoenix and more, erm, Freedom, collared dove, 'Wilder', the big woody with the healing broken wing who, to show his 'gratitude' ( Laughing

) used to slap me round the ear every chance he got with his good wing, and also enthusiastically tried to peck my eyes out whenever it was physio time, an injured blackbird named 'Flap', because she couldnt, it just goes on. I havent had an emu come hobbling in yet though, or an ostrich. But you know, I dont think anything would surprise me or perturb me, except perhaps with the latter two, I probably WOULD think, ''Jeeeez! This is gona cost a flippin fortune in antibiotics and nystan!'' Laughing

Subject: Re: A pigeon called MR CHIVERS. Tue Feb 22, 2011 6:40 pm

I found him! I found Mr Chivers! here he is sheltering from the elements in his make-shift den that I made him!
A pigeon called MR CHIVERS. Sickpigeon004

A pigeon called MR CHIVERS. Sickpigeon004

And here he is just before I made him his den, desperately trying to shelter in a teeny weeny bird feeder, poor thing!
A pigeon called MR CHIVERS. Sickpigeon001

A pigeon called MR CHIVERS. Sickpigeon001

Subject: Re: A pigeon called MR CHIVERS. Tue Feb 22, 2011 7:26 pm

Mr. Chivers looks like he was quite happy with his 'make shift' den.
The second picture is too cute.
Thanks for searching for the pictures, Annie. We LOVE pictures. Thrilled

Subject: Re: A pigeon called MR CHIVERS. Tue Feb 22, 2011 7:30 pm

AnnieBirdy wrote:: Hi, i DO have pictures of Mr Chivers somewhere, on one of my many photobucket accounts I think, and Im also pretty sure on a website or two. Theres not many, maybe 2 or 3, but Im certain i have one of him in his shelter box. He isnt part of my flock, I guess he never was, other than in my 'heart flock', and I have long since moved from the address where I lived then. I'll try a google search and see if I can find them, cos Id love to look at them again He was just a nice, plain and simple, mid-grey feral. There have been so many over the years, Chivers, Dennis, Ian, Sunshine, Phoenix and more, erm, Freedom, collared dove, 'Wilder', the big woody with the healing broken wing who, to show his 'gratitude' ( ) used to slap me round the ear every chance he got with his good wing, and also enthusiastically tried to peck my eyes out whenever it was physio time, an injured blackbird named 'Flap', because she couldnt, it just goes on.

* I havent had an emu come hobbling in yet though, or an ostrich. But you know, I dont think anything would surprise me or perturb me, except perhaps with the latter two,

I probably WOULD think, ''Jeeeez! This is gona cost a flippin fortune in antibiotics and nystan!''

Subject: Re: A pigeon called MR CHIVERS. Wed Feb 23, 2011 8:52 pm

Great pictures! I love it/them

And another great story! A pigeon called MR CHIVERS. 116281

Why did you call him Mr. Chivers, by the way? He isn't marmalade-coloured... not a bit... A pigeon called MR CHIVERS. 321758

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