Gypsy

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On 11/13, SFACC staff contacted me about a stray baby pigeon found at the intersection of Vienna & Russia that they were housing in the incubator and that needed hand-feeding. I went in to pick her up 11/14 and was surprised to find a baby homer rather than a baby king. She flickered her wings and squeaked up a storm in greeting. How she ended up alone out in the world at such a tender age is a mystery. It's kind of a miracle that she survived long enough to get to the shelter.

ACA Sandy had been caring for her and wished her a warm goodbye as we packed up.

I've named the little homer Gypsy and I call her a screamer rather than a squeaker (the usual term for a baby pigeon) because she gets so excited and shrill and enthusiastic and loud about food. She's been self-feeding but enjoys company and encouragement as you can see in this video.

From Baby Homing Pigeon Gypsy

I took her outside to see the "big" pigeons and not-too-much-older youngsters Pancho and Skylar were very interested in her.

Gypsy has been making steady progress and has gained more than 40 grams in a week (she was very thin). She was also very pale (probably anemic) but her beak is slowly, surely pinking up, She is still a dirty mess and looks a bit of a fright but she's bathing and will look great soon. Saturday's rain put everybody in the mood to bathe.

Gypsy is not quite ready yet for aviary life but she is doing great and when she's not exploring the house and hanging out with the indoor pij, she's talking to her friend in the mirror.

Gypsy is one of more than 100 homeless pigeons and doves in need of adoption. MickaCoo Pigeon & Dove Rescue needs your support to save all these birds from euthanasia. Please donate so that we may continue this effort. Thank you.

1/21/12 UPDATE:

Gypsy has healed a lot since she arrived at my house on 11/14.

She loves taking baths and it's a good thing. She's a lot cleaner now than when she was found.

Being at my house, Gypsy has to hang out with a lot of birds but she prefers people.

I was surprised when I introduced her to fellow baby-pigeon-in-need Pearl because, instead of having a big baby pigeon love fest like expected, Gypsy was mean to Pearl and so didn't get to bunk with her.

Gypsy gets around.

And while she wore her pants like a champ the first time I put them on, she has since taken to going on strike (in a crouch and backward, scuttle-y motion) when they are put on.

She's a very charming little bird.

And she's very helpful while I'm working.

She and Tookie and Lily are still negotiating border agreements.

She looks at you with a lot of feeling.

Here she is saying Hello to her old friends at SFACC on 1/20/12.

Gypsy is 3 months old. She is one of hundreds of domestic (unreleasable) pigeons and doves that would be killed in Bay Area shelters if not for MickaCoo Pigeon & Dove Rescue.

If you can, please open your heart and home and ADOPT.

If you can't adopt, FOSTER.

If you can't foster, DONATE.

Thank you!