A day too late!

Damn! I wish I found this forum yesterday!

I rescued a pigeon from the sidewalk in Melbourne, where it was sitting, fluffed up and unflying. I presumed sickness or shock, because there was no sign of injury on the bird. I checked it for everything I could think of, beak and throat looked healthy, eyes were healthy and the bird was responsive. It was falling over a bit, and a bit unstable generally.
I gave it water and it drank, and once I got it home from work and gave it food (Canary mix), it enjoyed the food very much and ate it all up.

It died over night, even though it seemed in improving condition last night!

I wrote a blog about the little guy, but I'd love to know if there was anything else I could've done / what I can do in the future, should the situation arise.

Pidgington at Infaernal

Hi tigeri6,
Welcome to Pigeon Angels.

Thank you so much for taking the time to pick up, and help, the little one.
Sadly, many would have just walked on by.

I am very sorry he wasn't able to overcome whatever problems he had.

From your description of him falling over and being unbalanced, my first thought would be starvation. Several things can be going on that would lead to this state.

First and foremost the bird needs to be stabilized by following a few basic steps.
Here is the link to the Basic life saving steps.
Please feel free to print this page.

We look forward to visiting with you.

Thanks WhiteFeather!

He was quite hungry when I finally got him home and fed him. Once I showed him where his food bowl was, he went to town! Ate for AGES, then... tipped the bowl over... silly pidge! But, I cleaned it up and re-filled it, and he ate more. I bought a blanket for him to sleep in in his little box, and we kept him in our warm bedroom over night.

Perhaps I wasn't quick enough with feeding him? Or didn't keep him warm enough?

I'm glad that I was able to give him a good last day on Earth and a final supper, rather than what his fate would've been... likely run over or murdered by junkies...

Thanks for the link too! I'll be getting some pet pigeons soon, so it's handy stuff to know for them, but I'll always be on the look out for pigeons in need in my area!

Did you like my blog story on Pidgy, by the way?

Hi, tigeri6!

I'm sorry that Pidgy passed away. Unfortunately it is nearly always the case that, by the time they will let someone pick them up, they're very ill already. But he at least had a friend with whom to share the time he had left, and he was allowed to depart with peace and dignity.

Pidgy looks quite young in that photo. It's impossible to say what caused his death without asking a large number of questions which you may find inappropriate, now that he is beyond saving. But I strongly suspect that, had you fed him sooner or more, the outcome would not have changed, as it's very likely that his malnutrition was due to the illness rather than ordinary hunger.
Heat is of the utmost importance for a sick bird,and it must be provided by an external heat source, as when their temperature drops they are unable to generate more heat.

Thank you for looking after him, and for writing such a moving tribute in your blog. I'm sure that his little soul will send more needy rescues your way, but in the meanwhile I hope you will find the information in Pigeon Angels helpful, and that you continue to share your thoughts with us.
Fly free, little Pidgy!

Hey Teresa,

Thanks for the reply! I had the feeling that was the case. I grew up with chickens, and whenever a chicken was like that, though we tried to make them better, often that meant death. Illness to that point just seems to take their fragile lives.

I have a feeling he may have been a young bird, because I found him under a bridge where a lot of Pigeons roost and nest. Perhaps that was his home and malnutrition coupled with sickness struck him.

Thanks for the reassurance though, and for reading my tribute. I was quite upset when he died, even though I anticipated and expected it!

tigeri6 wrote:

Thanks WhiteFeather!

He was quite hungry when I finally got him home and fed him. Once I showed him where his food bowl was, he went to town! Ate for AGES, then... tipped the bowl over... silly pidge! But, I cleaned it up and re-filled it, and he ate more. I bought a blanket for him to sleep in in his little box, and we kept him in our warm bedroom over night.

Perhaps I wasn't quick enough with feeding him? Or didn't keep him warm enough?

I'm glad that I was able to give him a good last day on Earth and a final supper, rather than what his fate would've been... likely run over or murdered by junkies...

Thanks for the link too! I'll be getting some pet pigeons soon, so it's handy stuff to know for them, but I'll always be on the look out for pigeons in need in my area!

Did you like my blog story on Pidgy, by the way?

Yes, I did. I posted a short reply.