There you are!

I thought I'd start a thread for sightings of released rehabs or other feathered friends we only see from time to time.

That's because when I went to change the pigeons' water at the park I came across Ritchie the Terror, who was released over a year ago after recovering from a broken leg. Considering the poor life expectancy for feral pigeons and the fears about how they will cope after release, I was overjoyed.

This was him recovering:


Fully recovered (check the attitude!):


And this was my daughter releasing him in August last year:

https://s333.photobucket.com/albums/m381/Skbllz/Pigeons/?action=view&current=DSCN7120-Free.flv

I like the topic, Teresa.
While I don't have pictures of them, I recognise some pigeons here, form 10 years back. One has only one foot and is easy to pick out of the crowd...or should I say flock.

What an excellent topic, Teresa.

I love it when we see a former pijjie flying about long after they have been released.
Ritchie the Terror definitely looks like he has a mind of his own and nobody is going to change it.

I love it that you filmed your daughter releasing him. And then as he's flying away the woman watching him. It kind of looked like she followed him until he was out of sight. That was .

Annie Fancy Feathers and her brother we brought to me by Kim (KIPPY) after they had fallen out of one of her palm trees. They were only a couple weeks old at the time, if I recall correctly.
They still needed attention and Kim worked so she asked if I could watch them. When they were ready to be released, we decided to release them into our backyard flock.

They were two of the funniest babies.

This is Annie (front) and her brother (May 2004)



Here's Annie, back for a visit (Jan 27, 2006)



It was very easy to spot her with her unique feathering. Her brother was not so easy as he had no distinct markings.

Great story and pictures of Ritchie the Terror! He sure was ready to go, he was off like a shot!

Matilda wrote:

I like the topic, Teresa.
While I don't have pictures of them, I recognise some pigeons here, form 10 years back. One has only one foot and is easy to pick out of the crowd...or should I say flock.

Wow, 10 years! That's amazing!

Annie Fancy Feathers is a beauty! Great pictures and great story, Cindy!

And yes, Ritchie is a real character! Shame I hadn't taken my camera today, but I do have some photos taken a few months back. In this one I think he recognised me.

Great photo, Teresa.
I love watching a flock of pigeons just kickin' back and being able to put down their guard a bit.

Noel, you clever boy, you made it!


After spending the last two weekends looking for my ex-rehab Noel, who used to go and feed in the square where some monster culled the entire flock, I saw him today when I went to the park to photograph the pigeons playing in the rain.
Cindy, you said you hoped he would turn up -- well, we've got our wish, and I'm SO happy!

The story:
Noel spent 4 months with us last winter, recovering from a broken leg and a Salmonella lesion on his wing. He became Piper's first love.
Here are the two of them doing the hokey-cokey:



Here he is after his release in February:



This was him at the park today:



And just look at him in action:

https://s333.photobucket.com/albums/m381/Skbllz/Pigeons/Noel/?action=view&current=DSCNB3079-Noel051009.flv

Teresa wrote:

Noel, you clever boy, you made it!


After spending the last two weekends looking for my ex-rehab Noel, who used to go and feed in the square where some monster culled the entire flock, I saw him today when I went to the park to photograph the pigeons playing in the rain.

* Cindy, you said you hoped he would turn up -- well, we've got our wish, and I'm SO happy!

This was him at the park today



And just look at him in action:

https://s333.photobucket.com/albums/m381/Skbllz/Pigeons/?action=view&current=DSCNB3079-Noel051009.flv

Bless your little birdy heart, Noel.
I'm going to dance right along with ya, Teresa.

I love this post!!
Look at him spread those beautiful wings and fly.

That is wonderful news.

How great of a story
I now have a large flock coming at 3:30 pm each day
and already the family is naming certain ones, and this just reminds
me that I missed watching the feeding today and better go out and
refill the dishes.............
love the video and he stood out so nice

Effa wrote:

How great of a story
I now have a large flock coming at 3:30 pm each day
and already the family is naming certain ones, and this just reminds
me that I missed watching the feeding today and better go out and
refill the dishes.............
love the video and he stood out so nice

Effa...how large is your feral flock?

The Magic of Merlin

Merlin is my darling boy, as dear to me as Piper herself.
Though I don't often mention him, I watch out for his arrival every day at feeding time... and every day he comes, has done so since he was released in April this year.

I first spotted him in early March, unable to stand or walk.



His feet were entangled in fine fishing line. By the time I managed to catch him, the damage was the most severe I've ever dealt with. He convalesced on a specially-made foam mattress.



Things got scary when one of the two remaining toes on his left foot would not straighten out, and I feared it might have to be amputated to allow him to walk. Cynthia was my guardian angel then.



Finally the day to release him arrived (yes, that's the cage that Grumpy has taken over, having noticed that I kept fresh food and water in it, in case Merlin wanted to come in -- but he never did.)



And here he is waiting for his dinner in May



June



July



and yesterday



and I love seeing him every day!

Wonderful pictures, Teresa. I have one like that too...brings me joy every time I see him.

Great sequence of photos, Teresa.
Merlin is a very handsome pij. As are his buddies.

Thank you both.
I suppose it's always the ones whose life you fight for the hardest that become dearest to you. He still reacts to his name, but won't come too close!

Three releases sighted in one day!

Scarlet:


Noel:


and Ritchie:

That's wonderful that you see them and know they are doing well. You have some fine looking ferals.

Teresa, this is so lovely -

Love you too, Merlin!

It's exactly a year since I posted here.

Guess who's still doing well out there... it's Noel (white with brown markings):



... and Merlin and Mac (ex-string injuries) come over for a meal every day.

This is Geraldo, last Friday, making himself at home. He stumbled for a moment on the windowsill, because of the window rails, but I think you'll agree he's doing fine despite missing two toes:



And Speedy (nearest to the camera), the latest release, has become a member of my invasive feral flock! She's really enjoying being free, but one of her toes still curls a lot, so I'm keeping an eye on her.

Teresa wrote:

Love you too, Merlin!

I'm sure glad you updated as I don't recall seeing this photo.

Love the update, pictures and video.
You're feral flock is beautiful. Chuck just saw the pictures and agrees.

He also says, "Hi, Teresa".

I still have a huge soft spot for Merlin! And I don't know what it is about his look, that I can have 10 blue-bars on the roof, but I recognise him instantly, even if all I can see is his face. That's why I called him Merlin, because I reckoned there was something mystical about him.
He was my first serious string injury, and doing my best to care for him before I had an avian vet to depend on was very frightening. As I remember, he gave me a good run for my money too, and it took me 3 weeks, and experimenting with 2 nets and 3 traps before I finally caught him.
I owe him the knowledge and experience that have helped so many other string injuries since then.