November 2009 Rescue Updates

A lot has happened- more than I keep up with so, in no particular order, here's some of the highlights.

The Marin Humane Society in Novato, that ever so kindly makes room for about-to-be-euthanized-for-space pigeons from other shelters when MickaCoo is too full, has a gorgeous flock of eight all white king pigeons (though two- Jade & Mei Mei- may be homer crosses) and these birds really need and deserve to be adopted! They also have a lot of roosters in need of homes.

Way back on 9/24, a blue bar feral pigeon with what looked like a dart shot through it landed on my roof. I pulled out my trap and scattered feed in an effort to lure it down and catch it but it never came lower than my two-story roof. I was sick that I couldn't help it and didn't see it again until 11/12 (meaning it survived this way for over 6 weeks) when it surprised me by showing up, still with the dart, and unable to use its right leg. I was amazed and thought it had been long dead.

This time I WAS able to catch it. The 4" dart had been shot right through its leg which had responded with a whole lot of swelling, scar tissue and, unfortunately, joint fusion. I was able to get Spike (as I call him) to my pij expert and, while he will probably never regain the use of that leg, he will live a good, long life- without a frickin dart shot through him. Here's what WildCare says on the subject:

Congratulations! That’s great that you were able to catch her! We have had pigeons with similar ‘arrows’ in them. Our animal control officers tell us that they are in fact arrows from a kids type air dart gun. For sale to anyone. Ugh! I included a pic of our last victim who was eventually released without any problems. Unfortunately just like with pellet guns, etc. there never seems to be any way to prosecute. No way to trace them or prove who done it unless you have a witness willing to testify which I have yet to see happen. Great work as always!

I was thrilled to find a wonderful home for four young kings. Dorsey, Sparkle, Will and Simon were successfully shipped to their long-distance approved adopter in Indiana and are doing great.




MickaCoo gained a desperately needed new foster home for two sick baby king pigeons, Little Jazzy and Gracey (formerly Suchi). When MickaCoo foster mom Loreli woke up with a migraine on the day she was scheduled to drive 230 miles round trip from Galt to pick up the sick babies, she recruited her mom to come along as back up.



Thanks to Loreli opening her heart, home and wallet, these sweet young birds are recuperating rather than dead by shelter euthanasia.




MickaCoo volunteer Barna (creator of the much loved Pigeon PSA) and adopter of Winter and Maggie (formerly Jewels) finished phase one of his newly built pigeon coop and adopted young king Skyscraper and the adorably cute and small mated couple- Zoe & Johnny Pijj.

It was amazing to see the grievously injured Winter looking so fit and strong and gorgeous and little Maggie all grown up into a handsome young cock.

With their foster mom, Sherri and her family away for vacation, I had the pleasure of bringing the all-grown-up and healthy and very charismatic Peppermint and his incredibly beautiful and cute friend Squeak home to stay in my loft. They are friends but not a mated couple (Squeak's too young). Both are incredibly good-looking and sophisticated pij- familiar with all the niceties of indoor living and wrangling humans. These two are available for adoption.




For two weeks, a blue check feral pigeon has been hanging around my backyard, standing on one foot while holding the other like a puppy who has a thorn in its paw. I could see the red thread that was knotted around her toes and cutting off the circulation (creating infection, hurting her, impairing her launch, etc.) but I could not catch her. She drove me crazy. Until I finally did catch her. The thread has been removed and she's recuperating in my loft and will be released back to her life soon.



Had a nice surprise when I was contacted by Annetta Black, a writer for www.BoldItalic.com who is doing a story about SF birds and wanted to interview me and include the kings in the story- hooray! It comes out in a couple of weeks. Here she is making friends with Peppermint.