Simon & Winnie

8/27 Update (Read bottom up to get the story chronologically)

Sad news. Winnie died yesterday afternoon. She was showing signs of improvement on Monday and Tuesday evening started to weaken. I got a consult and switched medications but she died midday on Wednesday. She didn't seem to suffer. She just failed.

Simon is strong and fit and doing great out in the loft. He was always very gentle with Winnie so I've been a little surprised to see what a tough little guy he is out in the loft. He hogged a food dish all to himself and chased senior birds Rocky and Louie off repeatedly (not to mention fellow squeakers Sparkle and Dorsey). He's also taken two baths (that I know of) in two days and has been trying out different nest boxes and hang out spots today.






8/24 Update

Here's Simon working on getting up the nerve to jump out of his crate.




And this made me happy to see- Winnie is feeling well enough to preen her friend Simon a bit and Simon returns the favor. And Winnie's breathing must be a little better because for the first time in more than 3 days, she laid down to relax and watch the backyard pigeon show.







8/23 Update

Simon is doing very well and shows no signs of illness. He's older (by a week or so I'd say) and weighs a quarter again what Winnie does. If they hadn't come in and been caged together at ACC, I would have put him out in the loft but, since he was with Winnie, I'm caring for them together. He doesn't like being handled and is nice and feisty.



Winnie is doing slightly better. Her breathing is a bit better and she's eating a little but she's still got a ways to go to recover. She spends most of her time napping with a bit of preening and watching out the window now and again. I was very happy to see her flapping her wings while on the cage top as that's always a good sign.




August 21, 2009



Aaack! I went to SFACC to borrow a kennel so that Winter could have a bigger home in which to recuperate and they are SWAMPED! I was only going to take PICTURES of the birds but came home with three baby king pigeons. Two are not feeling great, Simon and Winnie, and are in my kitchen counter hospital. The third is fit and hearty, now named Sparkle and is out in the TOO CROWDED loft. What is wrong with me?!

Simon (in the picture on the left, has a bigger beak and more pink eye rings) and Winnie (in the picture on the right with very pale eye rings) were found at the intersection of Folsom & Ripley on 8/17. Simon weighs 480 grams but Winnie weighs only 340. Both are very young- only about 4 weeks. Winnie still has a couple of the little yellow threads from her baby fluff left.