Rae Charles

Rae Charles is a common feral checker who was brought to us Oct 4, 2004.
A kind man who had been feeding a few ferals that visited his yard noticed one in particular was picking at seed, but was unable to pick them up. He also noticed when this pigeon took of he would crash into the side of his house.

One day after spreading the seed, he came up behind this pigeon and caught him.

He called me asking if he could bring the bird over. Of course there was no hesitation.

My original thought was PMV. Upon arrival, I placed the bird in a cage. I didn't think the bars were far enough apart for him to get his head through but they were. He was pretty thin. I immediately covered the sides of his cage and went about getting his seed, grit and water ready.

As I went to put the dishes in his cage I noticed he didn't move. This being very uncharacteristic of a PMV pigeon, my thought moved to him possibly being blind. Which he was. How he lasted as long as he did, I'll never know.

Now came the task of teaching him to find his dishes.
I placed a narrow perch just above the floor and in front of his dishes. At each feeding, I would tap the seed dish on the side of the cage, hoping he would follow the sound. Eventually he did. He learned that when he stepped onto the perch, his seed, grit and water dishes were in front of him.

How 'she' got her name. Chuck was traveling through Nashville and the name just came to him. We both like listening to Ray Charles' music. So Ray Charles it was.
We had to alter her name just a bit as one day I found an egg in her cage. So her name went from Ray Charles to Rae Charles.

Today, nearly 5 years later, she is doing wonderfully.

Here is my favorite photo of her with her bestest friend Pij (who was my inspiration for creating this site). Pij would fly all over the aviary picking up the gossip from the other birds and then go back and coo like crazy to Rae Charles as she listened intently. They adored each other.

I forgot to mention that Rae Charles is housed in her own 'home' within the aviary. Even though she can't 'see' the other birds, she can hear them and knows she not alone.

Often times the other birds will visit her and coo up a storm, in which she returns the coo's. So, I'm sure they are having quite the 'pijjie' conversation.

That's quite a story Cindy. I wonder how she got along before that guy caught her. She must miss Pij a lot, as I know you do. Thanks for sharing it.

NiteOwl wrote:

That's quite a story Cindy.
* I wonder how she got along before that guy caught her.

** She must miss Pij a lot, as I know you do. Thanks for sharing it.

* Except to say, 'it was meant to be', bless her heart.

** As I've heard other pigeons do, she went into quite a depression.
Mailo would fly over to her and coo as if to say, "It's going to be alright", but she would have no part of it. Just kept herself in the corner (First photo). He never gave up. He continued to fly over to see her (second photo). Then finally one day, she seemed to have snapped out of her depression and actually came over to where Malio was and began listening to him (third photo).
Malio's determination to help Rae Charles was incredible. Still brings tears to my eyes.







Anyone who tells me pigeons don't have feelings really needs to do some serious reading.

Oh... so moving! :( Everything about Rae Charles is an inspiration: How she survived initially, how she crossed paths with you, adapting, learning, loving, grieving and recovering...
You're right about pigeons and feelings, and this lady is also an extraordinary role model!

Oh My---- Im normally pretty composed.

But I got to the part about Malio and not giving up on her and I just lost it! :( You and Rae Charles have been a light that stands vigil over Petrie and I. I really hope to pair Petrie, some day so that he too... may find a love that ... makes him turn his head.

Stories like this are inspirational!

Thank you Teresa and Jenn.

Jenn,
We would love to read about Petrie.

Im working on his story . :study: .. and will be sure to share it...after it's been fine tuned!

AZJourney wrote:

Im working on his story . ..
and will be sure to share it...after it's been fine tuned!

Alrighty! Then I'll just sit back and relax, but will be ckecking often to make sure I don't miss it.

:That\\\'s so f

Cindy, thank you so much for sharing this story. It is moving to tears and if I had not known about these obvious feelings among pigeons I would now.

UPDATE:

1/20/2012

I just wanted to give anyone who may have been following Raye Charlie's story an update on her. Since coming to live with us she rightfully earned the name snuggle bug! Just like little Phoenix...she is EVER SO SWEET! I think Cindy and Chuck must have sprinkled them with sugar because they are BOTH such wonderful additions here at The Phipps House!

Although, These past few weeks have been a whirlwind. About two weeks ago we awoke to Ms. Raye's right eye being swollen. She had some weeping from it as well. Throwing caution to the wind I immediately began her on Metacam, Terramycin Ointment, and Baytril thinking that it would stop any infection that maybe present. Two days passed and I had seen little to no improvement. If anything the eye was even MORE swollen. So, off to see Dr. Funk we went. Upon doing her exam he felt that it was a sinus infection and said that he would have put her on the same thing I had initially started her on. But since that wasn't working we switched eye ointments to Neomycien/polymyxin. And changed the antibiotic to Trimethoprim/Sulfamethoxazole (Co-trimoxazole; TMP-SMZ) and of course still, Metacam. We went home feeling hopeful even though the grimm reality of sinus surgery wasn't off any of our minds.
5 days went by and it was evident that antibiotics were not going to be the solution alone. The area of skin in front of her eye was protruding so far now, that we all agreed that surgery needed to done ASAP. The only issue being that Dr. Funk was called into Jury Duty. so, with angels holding us all we waited an extra 2 days.
Yesterday was her surgery, and when a Dr. says that he needs you to be aware that she may not make it through the surgery because of her age, the world stands still...and no amount of time seems to go fast enough..... minutes seem like hours.
Finally at 3 pm I got the call that she had made it through!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
BUT, once Dr. Funk had opened the area he realized that it was a TUMOR and had nothing to do with the sinuses. The tumor had grown so quickly and had attached to her only eye that was still inflated. It was impossible to remove the tumor without removing her actual eye. Dr. Funk also said that there was a lot of brown fluid behind the eye. The surgery went well and he was able to remove the entire tumor. He also, gave her extra anesthetic due to his office is an hour and thirty minutes away from our house.

Today she is doing okay, poor girl. We are hand feeding her as she had stopped eating many days ago on her own. But the great news is she actually picked at her seed dish for lunch today. It is a sign that she is moving forwards.
I think thats really the lesson these birds teach all of us, that no matter what, keep going. Shes a Trooper. I love her dearly. Charis was right when she mentioned a few threads up that shes a survivor. It is true, she encompasses that word for us.
And Today I type this with so much Love in my heart that my angels heard my request yesterday when I asked that; they hold her in their hands for her surgery. Whether or not she was coming home to us or would be in loving hands guiding her to the rainbow bridge. I THANK My Angels for giving her back to us.
I will add pictures in a few days, as for today she is listening to us tell her how proud of her we are and how MUCH she means to not only us, but to Chuck and Cindy too.

Hi Jenn,
I must say, my heart sank just a bit when you called yesterday and told me what had happened to Rae Charles.
BUT Chuck and I are so glad you did.
We are also thrilled the outcome was on a positive note.

Thank you so much for updating her thread.
She is indeed a very special little pij.

What can I say about Dr. Funk other than he is a gift we are blessed to have.

You and Don are the best ever.

We look forward to updates as time permits.

Bless your precious little heart sweet Rae Charles.
Wishing you a speedy recovery.

Great news this morning! She is eating all on her own. And she is roo-cooing up a storm! Yay!!! It is music to my ears! I read her your post out loud Cindy! She turned her sweet head to listen too!

Dr. Funk's office just adore her. They thought it was amazing that she knew commands. I had placed a note attached to her cage that read; "My Name is Raye Charlie, PLEASE TALK to me before you pick me up, I'm Blind."
So Don showed the girl, how to place your hand in front of her without touching her and saying. "Up"...and up she goes! Then She says to Don I'll get a container to put her in to weigh her... Don says, No... It's okay... she will just stand on the scale. The girl thought he was NUTS! But Don put his hand over the scale and said, "Okay Raye, time to go Down"... and off she stepped!! Such a good girl, even when she is under the weather!

I will give her Plenty of LOVES so NOT to worry.

She sends her Love to you both as well! OH--- and yep- I do have MANY Pictures of her before her surgery. I'll send them off in an email.

Have a beautiful day!
Hugs

I am sooo glad Rae Charles is doing well, Jenn.
Many thanks for the update.

Thank you so much for the wonderful update, Jenn!

I held my breath reading about her tumour and the surgery, and I'm so happy that she made it through it and is now improving visibly!

I never knew that she followed instructions!!! Clever, sweet girl! Mine understand a couple of easy instructions well enough, but whether or not they do it depends on the mood they're in, the quality of the inducement, and whether it is infinitely more fun to play hard to get...
No wonder they were impressed at the vet's!

Give the sweet girl a kiss from me, and ask her if she would ask her angel friends to help me catch three string injuries I saw today. One has a horribly infected foot, and needs immediate help.

I'm sure you, Don, Ryland, Cindy and Chuck will sleep much better tonight, after such heartwarming news.
I wish you all a restful night and a blessed Sunday!