True Story
Today, after taking care of all the birds I care for (my own plus fosters and rescues), I took my saintly patient dog, Monkey, to the B-E-A-C-H. He was over due. We walked the mile to Candlestick Point where we always go. I love it there because it's more wild than not and only lightly used by people. I worry though about finding injured sea birds (because then I have to try and rescue them and that's a heart-breaker) and so lately I stay in the least-sea bird-populated area.
We went and a look up the beach reassured me that there were no sea birds in need of rescue and I started throwing sticks and Monkey started chasing them and all was great except then I saw a king pigeon squeaker at the bay's edge trying to drink salt water. I couldn't for a moment make sense of what I was seeing. I have king pigeons at home. Am I seeing things? But it was unmistakable- a (dirty) snow white, pigeon-sized and shaped bird with a gianormous beak (the give-away that it was young) standing at the water's edge on 'my beach'.
I'd never even heard of a king pigeon a year ago but since then I've helped save the lives of more than 100 through my rescue, outreach and adoption efforts. Till today, though, I'd never seen a king pigeon "in the wild". I'd only seen the survivors of being dumped or "set free" in the wild at the animal shelter where, without much interest from adopters, they are at extremely high risk of euthanasia.
A squeaker is what a young pigeon is called. Though they look grown (to an untrained eye), when frightened, they still make the peeps of a baby bird. This one is about 4 weeks old. I caught it bare-handed (no net nor even a jacket with the heat wave we're blissfully having) and apologized to long-suffering Monkey for ruining another one of his walks by rescuing a bird. It was very hot and we had a long walk home so I soaked it in the bay before we headed across the park and home.
Along the way, we came across the remains of its likely sibling. Pigeons lay two eggs and so there are usually two squeakers. The unlucky one had been caught and eaten, probably by a hawk. That's what happens to king pigeons when they are dumped (or set free) in the wild. They are quickly killed by hawks, dogs, cats and cars. They aren't wild pigeons and they have no skills for survival.
The lucky one was incredibly lucky. I have twelve happy, healthy, pampered, rescued pigeons (eleven of which are kings) at home and all the accouterments to make this one feel welcome. I thought about naming it Lucky or Charmed or Angel (because it's going to pigeon heaven) but have decided to call this bird True as in True Story.
I hate the long walk home with a frightened rescue. I'm telling it how lucky it is and how it's going to have good food and clean water and be nice and safe etc. etc. and of course it just wants to get away from scary me. I've made this long walk home from this beach this way more than a few times though never before with a pigeon.
Along they way we passed a house where a lady was watering her front lawn. Despite being "people shy" (as writer Matthew Jones would put it), I asked her if she'd mind filling my hand with water for the bird. She had seen my dog and thought I was going to ask for him and was surprised to see the bird cradled in my arm. She filled my hand and I cupped it and the water around True's beak which frightened him. The water drained through my fingers and she refilled it and I tried again and this time True realized what he was being offered and sucked down two handfuls in the way only a thirsty pigeon can. This down-the-street neighbor and I, though we didn't speak the same language, had a really nice moment giving a thirsty pigeon a drink. We both watched him with smiles.
Once home, I set him up in the kitchen with food and water and a basket and a mirror and I noticed he was listening through the window to my backyard pigeons. I took him out there and the last two squeakers I rescued, Dill and Tess (which are now very big for their britches) came and showed him how big and important they are and that they're the big bosses round these parts and so on. Poor True was properly cowed and after a short while I brought him back in to his private suite. When he's feeling better and has more strength, he'll go back out there and make his way into the flock. Pigeons talk tough but they (especially kings) are actually very gentle which is one of my favorite things about them.
He's skinny, dehydrated, is limping on his left leg and is exhausted but is resting comfortably and will likely do very well. I've checked down his throat and see no signs of canker. I'll worm him tonight and he'll most likely make a full recovery.
I've posted this on craigslist. People are releasing king pigeons but what they don't know is that by not finding them a proper home they're killing them.
I owe Monkey another walk big time.
We went and a look up the beach reassured me that there were no sea birds in need of rescue and I started throwing sticks and Monkey started chasing them and all was great except then I saw a king pigeon squeaker at the bay's edge trying to drink salt water. I couldn't for a moment make sense of what I was seeing. I have king pigeons at home. Am I seeing things? But it was unmistakable- a (dirty) snow white, pigeon-sized and shaped bird with a gianormous beak (the give-away that it was young) standing at the water's edge on 'my beach'.
I'd never even heard of a king pigeon a year ago but since then I've helped save the lives of more than 100 through my rescue, outreach and adoption efforts. Till today, though, I'd never seen a king pigeon "in the wild". I'd only seen the survivors of being dumped or "set free" in the wild at the animal shelter where, without much interest from adopters, they are at extremely high risk of euthanasia.
A squeaker is what a young pigeon is called. Though they look grown (to an untrained eye), when frightened, they still make the peeps of a baby bird. This one is about 4 weeks old. I caught it bare-handed (no net nor even a jacket with the heat wave we're blissfully having) and apologized to long-suffering Monkey for ruining another one of his walks by rescuing a bird. It was very hot and we had a long walk home so I soaked it in the bay before we headed across the park and home.
Along the way, we came across the remains of its likely sibling. Pigeons lay two eggs and so there are usually two squeakers. The unlucky one had been caught and eaten, probably by a hawk. That's what happens to king pigeons when they are dumped (or set free) in the wild. They are quickly killed by hawks, dogs, cats and cars. They aren't wild pigeons and they have no skills for survival.
The lucky one was incredibly lucky. I have twelve happy, healthy, pampered, rescued pigeons (eleven of which are kings) at home and all the accouterments to make this one feel welcome. I thought about naming it Lucky or Charmed or Angel (because it's going to pigeon heaven) but have decided to call this bird True as in True Story.
I hate the long walk home with a frightened rescue. I'm telling it how lucky it is and how it's going to have good food and clean water and be nice and safe etc. etc. and of course it just wants to get away from scary me. I've made this long walk home from this beach this way more than a few times though never before with a pigeon.
Along they way we passed a house where a lady was watering her front lawn. Despite being "people shy" (as writer Matthew Jones would put it), I asked her if she'd mind filling my hand with water for the bird. She had seen my dog and thought I was going to ask for him and was surprised to see the bird cradled in my arm. She filled my hand and I cupped it and the water around True's beak which frightened him. The water drained through my fingers and she refilled it and I tried again and this time True realized what he was being offered and sucked down two handfuls in the way only a thirsty pigeon can. This down-the-street neighbor and I, though we didn't speak the same language, had a really nice moment giving a thirsty pigeon a drink. We both watched him with smiles.
Once home, I set him up in the kitchen with food and water and a basket and a mirror and I noticed he was listening through the window to my backyard pigeons. I took him out there and the last two squeakers I rescued, Dill and Tess (which are now very big for their britches) came and showed him how big and important they are and that they're the big bosses round these parts and so on. Poor True was properly cowed and after a short while I brought him back in to his private suite. When he's feeling better and has more strength, he'll go back out there and make his way into the flock. Pigeons talk tough but they (especially kings) are actually very gentle which is one of my favorite things about them.
He's skinny, dehydrated, is limping on his left leg and is exhausted but is resting comfortably and will likely do very well. I've checked down his throat and see no signs of canker. I'll worm him tonight and he'll most likely make a full recovery.
I've posted this on craigslist. People are releasing king pigeons but what they don't know is that by not finding them a proper home they're killing them.
I owe Monkey another walk big time.
9/4/ UPDATE:
True did well on Friday, 8/29 (the day I found him), eating, drinking, napping and flying to high places in the house to perch. On Saturday he was still eating but a little less and napping more. On Sunday he was more down and I began antibiotics and syringe feeding and while seeming to rest comfortably, he continued to decline on Labor Day. I took him to the vet on Tuesday where we was x-rayed (showing a suspect area of possibly ingested metal for which he received EDTA), had a blood panel done (uric acids high, sodium low, phosphate high, ck enzymes very high, white count very high) and received sub cu fluids and a shot of intramuscular antibiotics. He died at a quarter to midnight that night. Cause of death is unknown but likely from an internal injury (such as from a flight mishap or escape from predation) that did organ damage and/or went septic. He was just over 4 weeks old. I'm seeking donations to pay for his vet care. If you can help, please donate at MickaCoo.
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