Summer

Summer is a baby king pigeon that was found at 9th & Clement in SF on 7/17. She either escaped from a live poultry market (baby king pigeons are squab) or more likely had been "set free" by a well-intentioned but uninformed customer. She was fortunate to be caught by shelter staff before she got killed by dogs, hawks, cars, etc.

Summer is a hardy bird and was coping very well with shelter life (despite being alone in a small cage in a dimly lit room) and, on 7/29 when I pulled her into MickaCoo foster care, volunteers reported she had been recreationally flapping her wings and bathing in her water dish. Despite her great attitude, she had a respiratory infection and, though full, I didn't have the heart to leave her.

I was at the shelter that day to pick up a really sick baby homing pigeon named Robin and brought them both home. They shared a cage for a day and, despite their difference in size (Robin 280g, Summer 535g) and condition, were compatible roommates.

Summer has been treated for and recovered from her respiratory infection and is now living outside as a foster pigeon in my backyard aviary (one of 22 birds). She is very feisty and not much interested in people.

Summer is young- she probably hatched around 6/15 and is too immature for me to know whether she is male or female. Time will tell. Summer is available for adoption from MickaCoo Pigeon & Dove Rescue. It is easy to create and care for an aviary for rescued pigeons.