No rest for the wicked

Teresa wrote:

Charis, I will try to find out what it is, but often the simple people who carry out the deed have no idea what exactly they are using. I heard though that this happens more than once in the summer, so it probably ties in with the sudden spates of 'disease' that victimised several birds very quickly.

* I'm also wondering what percentage of 'PMV' symptoms here may actually be a direct result of mild poisoning...

What an idiocy, putting lives at risk just because they can't bear to see weeds growing in their manicured public lawns!

** Fortunately there have been no deaths since. I'm still taking clean water for the park pigeons at least once a day, and twice a week I put a little ACV in it -- that's about all I can do.

*** My feral flock are getting the best food money can buy, and I hope that will strengthen them and stop them foraging for rubbish/unsafe stuff. They've all been medicated for cocci, and a local pet shop is trying to find me something like 'fish zole'.

* Good point.

** I'm so glad to hear that, Teresa.

*** That is one very lucky feral flock to have you watching over them.

Teresa wrote:

Thank you so much, Petra! Some moments are really hard to bear, but the happy moments, the sight of the ones who make it, and all the encouragement I get from the wonderful people here, make it all worthwhile.

Charis, I will try to find out what it is, but often the simple people who carry out the deed have no idea what exactly they are using. I heard though that this happens more than once in the summer, so it probably ties in with the sudden spates of 'disease' that victimised several birds very quickly. I'm also wondering what percentage of 'PMV' symptoms here may actually be a direct result of mild poisoning...
What an idiocy, putting lives at risk just because they can't bear to see weeds growing in their manicured public lawns!

Fortunately there have been no deaths since. I'm still taking clean water for the park pigeons at least once a day, and twice a week I put a little ACV in it -- that's about all I can do.

My feral flock are getting the best food money can buy, and I hope that will strengthen them and stop them foraging for rubbish/unsafe stuff. They've all been medicated for cocci, and a local pet shop is trying to find me something like 'fish zole'.

It's a very real possibility.
I certainly hope there are no more deaths.
I believe you can order powdered metronidazol form Foys Pigeon Supply. They ship internationally. The powdered medicine can be applied to the seed of the water. it mixes much better in water than the fishzole. If Foys won't sent it to you. I can.

Here's a link to the page at Foys with all the different canker medications. Some of them are good and others not so good. I'm happy to give you my favorites if you want.

http://www.foyspigeonsupplies.com/catalog/canker.html

Oh my goodness!! Charlie looks wonderful. What a difference.
I'm sure it was a bittersweet moment when she was released.

Thank you so much for sharing her 'release' with us.

Great job on removing the string. Beautiful pij, btw.
I'm so glad there were no injuries involved.

Your videos were wonderful. The flock is beautiful. Gotta love 'em all.

Special get well wishes to your daughter and Mom.

Teresa, what a sweet little girl and how happy she seemed - she looked back to say goodbye to her mommy - so it seemed. I am really glad that there are not only sad stories.
My best wishes for you mom and daughter - I hope they are doing well. Sending healing thoughts...

Thank you for your good wishes for my daughter and my mum! They're doing very well!
I'm very glad you enjoyed the videos and pics of my little friends!


I caught another string pigeon today -- This time it was Snowboots, one of my feral flock (the male with feathered legs), with both legs and most of his toes bound with sewing thread. That either happened yesterday or today, and, as in Dash's case, it hadn't done any damage yet and was quite easy to remove. Two minutes after I released him, he was back on the roof eating!

The littlest homer -- Guess who was released in the park but comes home for dinner... Yep, Charlie! Then she goes back to the park! Trust me to be caught without the camera today! I'll take a photo next time.

I like these kinds of updates. Great job, Teresa.

Absolutely wonderful pictures , videos and updates Teresa.

You really brightened my day.


Louise

You certainly have had your share of 'string' pigeons lately, Teresa.
Thankfully, you have spotted them before any damage occurred.

Snowboots! Love the name.

Yeah!! for Charlie on her release.

Thanks, everyone! It's just the warmest feeling being able to help a string-bound pigeon before any damage occurs, and seeing them take off free! And I think I needed that as much as they did, after feeling powerless to save Midnight and Tigga.
As for their high numbers at this time of the year, I strongly suspect that local ferals are trying to knit, rather than build, their nests!

The funniest sight greeted me this morning when I went into my study/classroom/aviary -- there were 4 ferals walking about on the floor, picking up spilt seed, and Lawrence cat curled up on a chair, lazily watching them, looking slightly annoyed at the invasion!
Grumpy and his mate were the gang leaders, of course. I keep trying to discourage them from getting past the windowsill because of the cats, and I hate it when they take risks like that, but I had to laugh at the scene...

Teresa wrote:

Thanks, everyone!

* It's just the warmest feeling being able to help a string-bound pigeon before any damage occurs, and seeing them take off free! And I think I needed that as much as they did, after feeling powerless to save Midnight and Tigga.

** As for their high numbers at this time of the year, I strongly suspect that local ferals are trying to knit, rather than build, their nests!

*** The funniest sight greeted me this morning when I went into my study/classroom/aviary -- there were 4 ferals walking about on the floor, picking up spilt seed, and Lawrence cat curled up on a chair, lazily watching them, looking slightly annoyed at the invasion!
Grumpy and his mate were the gang leaders, of course. I keep trying to discourage them from getting past the windowsill because of the cats, and I hate it when they take risks like that, but I had to laugh at the scene...

* I agree 100%, Teresa.

**

*** Brave little ones aren't they?

Charlie, The Littlest Homer, on the roof today:



She isn't daunted by the competition, crawling under larger pigeons to get at the food! In fact, I had to gently push away several of them just to get this photo of her eating!



Meanwhile, Sweets had gone straight for the seed pocket!

Is Sweets too adorable or what!!

I've got photos of little Charlie perching on my hand! But I'm afraid I don't have time to upload them now. Tomorrow, hopefully!

Teresa wrote:

* I've got photos of little Charlie perching on my hand!
** But I'm afraid I don't have time to upload them now. Tomorrow, hopefully!

*

** Well . . . There's a bright side to that. We will all have something to look forward to.

Teresa, this is sooooooo lovely!!!
Don't you love that warm feeling of living feathered bodies on your hands, trampling over your fingers and completely disregarding the human being? I just love it when they bury their heads into your hand in order to get the best parts of the seed.

Teresa,

Do you have pigeon blood within you? How the heaven do you tame them???? I love your pigeons. They are very lovely and funny.
Charis, that's what I wanted to do with the pijs on my front yard but they look at me like a predator.

pigeonwriter wrote:

Teresa, this is sooooooo lovely!!!
Don't you love that warm feeling of living feathered bodies on your hands, trampling over your fingers and completely disregarding the human being? I just love it when they bury their heads into your hand in order to get the best parts of the seed.

My feelings entirely! I love the way they feel, so soft and warm! And I love seeing their expressions up close!

Tech wrote:

Teresa,

Do you have pigeon blood within you? How the heaven do you tame them???? I love your pigeons. They are very lovely and funny.
Charis, that's what I wanted to do with the pijs on my front yard but they look at me like a predator.

Many of them have known me for a few years, so they don't feel threatened. A few are released rescues who stayed close to the source of nice food! And a few are very young, this year's squeakers, and they're quite unafraid.
If you can spend enough time with a feral flock, they become quite trusting. Mind you, 3 Kg/day of the best dove mix (dove, not pigeon mix, so the babies can eat safely) is a good short cut to their affections!

The real difficulty comes with trying to catch or even observe closely an injured pigeon, as they are SO wary and cautious! At times like that I wish I could speak pigeon to tell them I just want to help...

Tigga's necropsy:

The vet contacted me today with the preliminary results. It seems that, although the weedkiller may have been a contributary factor, the cause of death appears to be infection -- so we're back to square one!

She asked if I would be prepared to order 3 cultures: one for mycobacteria (to test for TB), one for protozoans (canker, cocci, hexa) and one for fungus. Naturally I said yes. I will keep you posted when the results come.

PS. Caught, freed and released another string-bound pigeon today. This time it was Arizona, the red/pied male, wrapped in a mess of thread -- since yesterday -- so no harm done yet. His sister also has string on one foot, but I couldn't catch her on the same day, as the whole flock got cautious after I caught the other one.

I'm still trying (unsuccessfully) to catch Mac, plus a blue-bar female who came round yesterday for the first time.

Great job. I'll keep fingers crossed you catch the others too.

Teresa!!
Got my fingers crossed that you are successful in catching Mac, soon.