Juliek's rescue

New member's message:

juliek wrote:

I have taken in a pidgeon who cannot seem to fly. We have been taking care of it for about 5 days now. It came into the yard, to the bird block feeder with others and just never left. It throws it's head back, which i have learned may be *stargazing* from what info i can find online. This bird has become quite tame, he forages in the yard off and on all day, then comes to our patio in the evening and puts himself in a catcage that we put away for the night. My big problem is we have 2 cats, and it's becoming a real chore keeping them apart. I'm looking for someone, or some place that can take this sweet bird in...before an accident happens here. Can you give me any info, or a site i can research to get help with this little guy?

Thankyou so much if you can help. (i live in mesa, az)

julie king

I replied suggesting she might contact Dr. Funk in case he knows someone who can take the pigeon.

juliek wrote:

Ohmy gosh thankyou, I'm almost in tears here, because i finally found someone who may be able to help. Most of the sites i typed in, wanted to actually exterminate pidgeons for you :( ... Yes i have a soft heart for all animals, sometimes i think that is a curse. One of my cats is a stray I took in.
Thankyou for reposting my note. I will certainly contact Dr Funk on monday. In the meantime If you hear of anyone who may be able to help, I would appreciate a note. I will keep checking the site also.
This little guy can fly. My biggest fear is he flies out of our fenced yard and something gets him, including my own cats. When he flies, he just doesnt quite get off the ground, or flies into a bush...I am thinking because he cannot see well. And yes, he walks zigzag.

thankyou again for your kind, helpful reply. I will do everything i can do to save this little one.

Julie, is there any way you could catch him and house him in a rabbit hutch or similar until we can find something more permanent for him? My fear is that he may injure himself in the meanwhile, and also many pigeons with that condition can't bear strong light, which makes them have more fits. It would also be possible to check if he's actually managing to eat and drink, rather than try and not manage to pick up the food, scattering it instead.
Drinking can be tricky for a bird who stargazes, as they can easily drown. The solution is to give them water in a narrow container that they can get their beak into, but not their head.

I'll let you know if I can find out anything else. Meanwhile, I'll keep you both in my thoughts and prayers.

Julie...when he puts himself in the cage at night, just don't let him out in the morning. That way he will be contained and you can take him to Dr. Funk.
As pigeons are ground feeders, so are rodents and rodents like the same kind of seed pigeons eat. That being the case, it's not unusual for pigeons to eat seed that has become contaminated from rodent droppings. If that happens, they can become very ill with a bacterial infection called salmonella. It is easily treated with antibiotics for a course of 14 days. Other bacteria and even parasites can cause similar symptoms.
The star gazing can also be caused by PMV virus, from which the bird can also recover with supportive care.

Thanks, Teresa,

Yes he is eating and drinking. I know what you mean about him not being able to pick up seeds. It's like he is swiping at them, never quite connecting. I have loose ones, that I put in a small pile and he eventually gets them easier that way. I also give him some 12 grain bread, which he certainly pecks to pieces..he must be getting some of that. I have seen him drink from the dish i have for him. But the eating is frightful. It seems like when he actually gets a seed, he throws his head back violently, sometimes to the point of falling over. It's heartbreaking to see. He stays in our gazebo most of the day, and i have a catcage which he goes in to ...well rest i guess. Right now he is in there locked up for the night, and safe.

I am going to call Dr Funk in the morning , and see if they have someone that can take him, and hopefully treat him and make him better. He,,,well i suspect it's a she, seems more comfortable around us than the other pigeons right now. She reluctantly lets us pick her up. I have an awful feeling that she can't see too well. I hope i'm wrong.

I dont know what i'm doing, but she is certainly is getting a lot of love , attention, and the best care i can give for now.

I'll let you know how the Dr call goes. I have fingers crossed. Thankyou for your help...i appreciate it very much.

julie

Matilda, thankyou for that information. I had no idea.

Gosh i'm not sure i am replying right, in this forum. I hope you can see this.

I also took note of Teresa's point about the water...and promptly emptied his little dish to just a bit in the bottom..i did see it drink , but the water was that low, . Once i read that, I remembered that i DID see him try to drink from a bigger container and his whole head went in.

Thank you both for your advice, and helping me ,,,us through this. This little one needs to be with someone who can really care for it. With your help, encouragement and advice, i hope and pray we will find that person soon.

Hi Julie,

I'm keeping everything crossed that your call to Dr. Funk will work!

Good move on changing his water dish, though leaving just a little water in the bottom may not allow him to drink -- pigeons need to dip half their beaks in the water to 'suck' it up, unlike other birds. At a push, perhaps tilting the dish a bit would help, as there would be a smaller area where the water is deeper.

Charis (Matilda) is absolutely right about the causes of his symptoms. I hadn't mentioned parasites as that's less frequent, but in my message to you I'd said there were equal chances of him having a bacterial or a viral infection (both not contagious to cats or humans), and that the first needed antibiotic treatment, whilst the second has to be left to run its course.
Though the main preoccupation here is to keep him alive, eating and drinking, while we try to find someone who can care for him, maybe you could give him a helping hand meanwhile -- do you have any antibiotics in the house, and if so which? We could work out the right dosage to give him, and how, as that would certainly help!
PS. Charis, thanks for the information about rodent droppings and salmonella! I'd noticed which months it struck over here, but hadn't made the connection between it and rodent droppings contaminating the pigeon food!

Hi Teresa,

I put the same amount of water in that small dish,,,that i saw him get a drink out of, and hoping that will work. If i go close to tip it, he will just move away. No antibiotics here at all, and being disabled and fixed income makes it almost impossible for me to get any. I'm really hoping i can get some help from Dr Funk's office today, but i realized today is a holiday, and wondering now if that office will even be open. I"m going to call at 9..and see. I really need to find someone to care for this little one properly, if he is to have a fighting chance. After 5 days, he at least doesnt seem to be getting any worse...and holding his own, so i'm not doing any harm at least.... And now...i'm also questioning how much food he actually does get. It's hard to tell when he pecks at those seeds and they fly everywhere. He really loves to tear apart a slice of multi grain bread. I will keep offering that now and then, hoping he at least gets some of it.

Hi Julie,
Welcome to Pigeon Angels.

Many thanks for doing what you can to help this little guy.

If Dr. Funk isn't available, another contact you might think about is East Valley Wildlife in Mesa.
Nancy is a long time local rehabber. Her number is 480-814-9339.

Keeping fingers crossed and thinking positive thoughts for you and your rescue.
Please keep us posted on how things are going

Thank you so much for the extra contact, Cindy!

Cindy, thankyou for that other contact information. I'll start with Dr Funk's office.

and also , thank YOU for this website, and to the others willing to help with information, and their expert advice. I had all but given up looking for help when i found this site.

Ok, here goes nothing..I'm about to make those calls. wish me luck. I will be back later to let you know how it went.

ps. My pigeon is looking much better this morning, i have not seen him waggle his head one time this morning...even while eating. seems much brighter and full of energy.

@Teresa, Matilda, Cindy: OH HAPPY DAY. Dr Funk's office was not able to help me, except give me numbers for some wildlife rehab...but i called the 2nd number Cindy gave me, and spoke with Nancy on the phone. She was totally willing to take him in, and we will drop it off later this morning.
I will ask her to keep me posted, and pass on anything else i hear from her.

I cant thank you all enough. This little one has some "guardian angels", for sure.

Julie

juliek wrote:

@Teresa, Matilda, Cindy: OH HAPPY DAY. Dr Funk's office was not able to help me, except give me numbers for some wildlife rehab...but i called the 2nd number Cindy gave me, and spoke with Nancy on the phone. She was totally willing to take him in, and we will drop it off later this morning.

I will ask her to keep me posted, and pass on anything else i hear from her.

I cant thank you all enough. This little one has some "guardian angels", for sure.

Julie

I am so glad Nancy was available.

Thank you again, Julie, for helping this sweet pij.

That's wonderful news, Julie, thank you for sharing them with us!
I look forward to hearing news of his progress!

A big thank you to Nancy for taking him in, to Cindy for providing her contact, and to you for being a PIGEON ANGEL!

Well my little one is in safe hands now. Nancy did a quick assessment of it right there, and noticed it's breastbone was sticking out, which meant it was very skinny, even though it looked good with all those feathers . So I guess it wasent getting as much food as it looked. Everything else checked out fine, as far as she could see. She was going to feed it, and start on medication right away for it's other afflictions.
Wow, i never expected to feel so sad, that its gone...but very happy it's in the right hands now. She promised she would give me an update on it's progress, which i will surely share with you here. Poor Nancy was sick today, and bless her for taking the bird...I gave a donation to her organization to help with food, medecine etc. So there, its done.

Thankyou Angels, for your help...

Julie

It's great to know that your little foundling is being very well looked after!

And you're right, with all those feathers it's very difficult, unless you know what you're looking for, to know if they haven't been getting enough food... always a big worry with birds who have seizures and toss their food!

I had to grin when you said you felt sad at letting him go... that's how most of us got hooked! It just takes one bird that miraculously can be given a second chance, and somehow the finder is never the same again, starts noticing others, checking if they're OK... I have a feeling that this won't be your last rescue!

I hope you get great updates and come back to tell us all about them! And in the meanwhile, feel free to have a look around at what to do if there is another emergency, read the stories of other rescues, or simply pop back for a chat!

Teresa, well i openly laughed when i read your post...you are OH SO RIGHT. <<<<<>>>>>>hook, line,,,sinker. lol. And yup, i'm watching the others closely to make sure they are all ok. I actually had a stranger come with the flock yesterday, who had an injury to the back of it's head :( I could get close...but not THAT close, so i'm thinking no help for that little guy..i just hope its not serious.

Yes, i've been reading on this site..many many posts. It's a wealth of information. A lot seem to have much tamer birds than what usually visit my little area,, although the regulars come close, and runnnn to me when they see me coming because they know they're getting a treat. Especially a pure white one who i've been making friends with for about a year. She IS a beauty. So as you can see i am totally hooked. I will visit here often, and i love chatting with others like yourself who love these guys too.

No word from nancy yet...i'm hoping no news is good news. But if i dont hear from her in a week or so, i will call...yes maybe even stalk her until i can find out how my little one is doing, lol. One thought: if she did rehabilitate it fully and relased it, do you think it would come back here? I have heard that some do that.

have a great day !
julie

I spoke too soon about my beautiful white pigeon. When we got home today, there was a big hawk sitting on the fence and a pile of white feathers on the ground. I'm heartbroken. And thinking of shutting down all birdfeeding. No words.........

I am so very sorry to hear this, Julie.
Let's see if we can think of a way to keep your birdfeeders up
as well as keeping your pijjies safe from predators.

Oh Julie, I'm so sorry...

Hawks are very clever, and that one will be watching your area now, waiting for another opportunity. With feral, free-flying flocks, it's almost impossible to protect them, but there are a few things you can try:

- I've heard people recommend feeding the pigeons at varying times, so the hawk can't learn their routine.
- Also, beware of anything that can be used as a hawk perch, and if possible feed the pigeons far from it -- preferably in an open area, with little tree cover, where the pigeons can easily see the predator approaching.
- Feed them perhaps a little less, so they eat quickly, and eat all of it, and won't be tempted to return to the feeder repeatedly.
- If possible, stay with the pigeons while they're eating, so the hawk will think twice. Some pigeon owners were actually able to scare an attacking hawk away from their pigeons, by making a lot of noise, waving arms, etc.

I know that none of this is a consolation for the loss of your beautiful white pigeon, but it will help the others and give you some peace of mind.
Your little friend is at peace now, free from the limitations of this world. She will have taken away with her good memories of a happy life, and a human who was a good friend.
One day we will be joined again with our little friends who went on ahead, but until then I hope that the lovely memories you have of her will be a balm for your sadness at this parting.

Fly free, little one!

Oh my gosh, thank-you Cindy and Teresa for your kind words. i cried when i read your messages.

I thought I had done all the research , and set my feeding system up safely. I had this problem last summer also, so i went on a misson to really research how to keep them safe. This is the first incident this winter. I thought i had that covered...but i guess i didnt. I too, have scared them away before they could grab one of the birds at the feeder.

But to have him grab "beauty" was so devastating. She had become so trusting and i'm sure felt safe in this yard.. I felt guilt for making her feel that way. The hawks are only around in the winter here, and leave when it gets hot, for higher country. I had noticed lately that when the flock flew up in alarm, she never did. She stopped flying up with them, and I think thats why he got her.

So to Cindy...yes i am going to have to rethink birdfeeding. Whether i just take it all down...and feed the small finches and hummingbirds only, or try to figure out some safer way, because this is too difficult to lose one like that. Maybe i'm too much of a softie.

Teresa, I have a small gazebo which shelters the food. It's far from trees and fence, and is out in the open. After watching them I notice one bird sounds an alarm, and they're off. I do have one of those seedblocks , and yes they come regular every morning...and off and on through the day, along with the doves and quail. Maybe i should stop buying the blocks and just throw seed out at odd times through the day. I also have an air gun at the ready to make a noise to scare hawk out there. But this time i wasent home...and ohhh the guilt.

Again, thankyou both ..its nice to know someone understands .

julie

I COMPLETELY---know how you're feeling. It's frustrating to say the least. (((((((so many hugs to you )))))))

Our backyard opens up to the desert for hundreds of miles and it is a prime year round location for sharp skinned hawks, coopers hawks and peregrines... who think our yard is their personal drive through. GRrrrr--- it is maddening.

We have had success at growing bushes......and then trimming the lowest part up from the ground so that the doves can forge underneath the foliage. It acts as a, "canopy" for them.

I am shy of making my dear neighbors think Im a mad woman who runs outside screaming with bed head and jammies on.... clapping my hands to chase them away... all the while, yelling, " YOU HAVE THE WHOLE Sonoran DESERT to hunt, THIS drive through is CLOSED!!!!"
Yep-- I think that qualifies as a ROFLOL!

Julie, I just read about the terrible incident with your feathered angel. This is pure horror. I dare not to imagine how I would feel if I saw a beloved creature end like that. This is terrible and I can fully understand your pain.

Thinking about the possibilities you might have to protect your beloved birds I would say besides having a shelter above the food the better possibility might be to have no food at all outside but feeding them only while you are there. This might even happen at regular times so that they get used to come but when you are there you can protect them. If you are not there they will not starve for one day but check out another time.

I am living in a small appartment with a balcony. Our pigeons are used to come inside when I open the balcony door for a couple of centimeters, they slip underneath the door and are feeding then inside. Same way they are leaving again. No raptor would ever be able to get them here because I never leave any food outside.

Hopefully you will find a good solution. I am very sorry for your little feathered friend

Pigeonwriter, thankyou SO MUCH for your kind words. I had a horrible night. Could not sleep. thinking about my beauitfulwhite and what she must have went through when i wasent here. I do torture myself like that and i shouldnt. So I was sitting here just feeling bad, and gazing out into the yard...tired and sad...when I decided to sign on and read some posts . Yours and Jenn's posts to me were precious. Thankyou for caring, and mostly for understanding how i feel...others sometimes do not.
I LIKE your idea of feeding them while i am physically there only. I will do away with the seedblocks and try this. I am a formidable foe to a hawk threatening my flock. Thankyou for that suggestion.

TO JENN: You made me laugh...because I do the same thing. Before we moved to this location, we lived in a community on a golf course. I too, would run out in jammies clapping, yelling and jumping around like a lunatic when i spotted a hawk. I am thinking golfers would tiptoe carefully past the 9th hole in fear of provoking the crazy lady..I dont think they ever saw the hawk,,,they were too busy staring at my antics. LMAO. HERE...theres a huge half acre yard, all block fenced in ,,,,so even though they may hear me,,,at least i can jump and flap around in private, hahaha. Thankyou for the laugh...there was never a day i needed it more. (((((hugs)))))))

Thankyou both, and all the others who responded and understand my pain. I can't tell you how much all your messages have helped me..both with the little rescue and the loss of my beauty. I have had so much death in my life,,,even the loss of a sweet innocent bird, could have pushed me over the edge. Thanks for grabbing me and pulling me back. God must have led me here.

Julie

Awww...

You should not feel guilty for not being in when the hawk came... tragedies happen sometimes, way beyond our power to do anything about them, and the sadness is burden enough, let alone carry the weight of 'what if'. The living need your strength and your protection, they need to see you smile.

About the feeders, yes I would do away with the feeding block. Ferals usually eat in the morning and in the evening, and it's safer they don't come looking for food in between. Getting them used to eating only in your presence is a great idea. You can also make a sound, or a call, they will start to identify as a dinner gong and this would be great to let them know it's time to eat if you need to vary the times of their feeding to discourage the hawk.

I would also strongly advise you to train all your visitors to take to the air when the alarm is sounded. If the flock takes flight and there's one straggling on the ground, providing that's not caused by sickness or injury, then clapping your hands to startle him will gradually teach him that when the alarm goes off, they too should act on it.

I only feed my feral flock in the early evening now (a neighbour gives them breakfast ) because they have become so many that they could attract local hostility. I live in the heart of the city centre, you see, and I don't want them to have enemies.
Because of my working hours, dinner can be as much as half an hour early or late, but we've got it sorted: the minute I open the window and call out 'Babies!!!', in they swoop, and the sky above me is suddenly full of wings! They're such a joy to watch!

@ Teresa~~

@ Julie~ Birds of a feather Flock together our Dear Friend! If there is one thing that can unite us all, it is the love we all share for our animals!

@ Petra- Since not being on FB I miss hearing all the feathered news from your part of the world. I will make it a point to catch up via PA! And perhaps I may eventually find my way back to Face Invaders! Goodness help me! LoL!

Hugs to each of you!