the rescue report: Baby Pigeons Dill and Tess, Chapter 2

Dill and Tess became friends as soon as they met. Tess, the baby feral pigeon, was only three weeks old, not fully weaned, a stray (don't know what happened that put her alone on the street at 22nd and Cabrillo), that had spent one day alone in a cage at the city shelter and another day alone in a box being driven all over the Bay Area (while I drove a bunch of birds around on rescue errands between SF & SJ). She was, it's pretty easy to imagine, scared, lonesome, hungry and forlorn, though she didn't show it. She kept her head up. Dill, a king pigeon, was about a week older, weaned, had also been found as a stray (at Taylor and Clay) and had spent two days alone in his cage at the shelter plus the day in a box riding around. While older and more physically mature, Dill struck me as less emotionally mature. He did all kinds of baby-squealing trying to conjure up a bird mommy. Tess did a bit of baby-peeping but was much less demonstrative. They were SO happy to find each other.

Pigeons lay two eggs (one male and one female, usually) and, unless something bad happens, baby pigeons grow up with a nest mate. They keep each other company- providing warmth, security and amusement, while the adult pigeons are out scrounging around for food. Something bad had happened from Dill and Tess' point of view and, until they found each other, they were very much alone. Once together, everything was better for them. They snuggle constantly.

Dill already knew how to eat seeds and so, while Tess was starting to learn, she (and I) really benefited from his eager demonstrations. Tess is fully weaned now.