Opal & Georgie, Before & After

There are a lot of ups and downs in rescue. On February 1, I was thrilled to be meeting with SFACC Supervisor of Animal Care Eric to begin the set up of a cage to foster pigeons in their lobby (See Great Big News! for full story.)

But I was heartbroken and distressed to find two very sick baby king pigeons there in need of urgent rescue. MickaCoo Pigeon & Dove Rescue was full. I didn't know what to do. If I Ieft them, they would die. If I took them in, our overstretched and underfunded network would be even more precarious. Every additional bird that we take on is a big responsibility.

Baby king pigeon Opal- emaciated and sick with both respiratory and GI infections

Baby king pigeon Georgie- open mouth breathing from respiratory infection

I called one of MickaCoo's foster volunteers, Jill, and asked what she thought. Should we try to squeeze in two more? Could she take them in? She said yes and yes and I brought them home.

Opal & Georgie spent the night fostered at my house

Georgie left, Opal on the right, very sick but enjoying the morning sunshine

Not only did Jill make room in her home and heart for these two very sick babies, she drove all the way in to SF from her home in Sunol to pick them up. And she did so knowing that these sold-for-meat and cruelly "set free" baby kings were at high risk of death and of breaking her heart. They are factory farmed, stressed and abused and sometimes, no matter what we do, we can't save them. As MickaCoo volunteer Cheryl says, "Pigeon rescue isn't for sissies."

Jill meeting baby Georgie

But despite everything, Jill took these two little orphans home and set them up snug and comfy. She gave them their meds and, as they started feeling better, she loaned them an entire room to use as a playground.

Georgie (with black-tipped tail) and Opal both showing signs of improvement

Georgie and Opal relaxed and chillin'

Recovered, Opal and Georgie get to have an adventure in the big birds' avairy

Opal has a visit with his friend in the mirror

In time, Opal & Georgie made a full recovery. Sweet little Georgie proved to be a hen and was wooed away from her childhood sweetheart Opal by the slightly older and more sophisticated Luna. Luna is one of Jill's rescued pigeon pets and so Georgie went from being a foster pigeon to being an adopted one. Congratulations to Luna & Georgie- what a striking couple!

And brave little Opal is all grown up and now a big strong bachelor bird (available for adoption) and looking for his own mate. And don't worry- we'll see that he gets a girl.

This is the life-saving and life-changing difference that MickaCoo Pigeon & Dove Rescue makes. This is the difference that YOU make when you support MickaCoo through your donations, volunteering and adoption.

Before: Sick, doomed but brave Opal and After: Healthy, strong, proud Opal

Thank you for making this difference.

6/9/12 UPDATE: A Whole Other Side of Opal!

MickaCoo adopter and foster volunteer Jill joined in to help staff a table at Maddie's Fund Adoptathon in SF and introduce a whole lot of new people to the plight and pleasures of pigeons. She brought along Opal to serve as an Ambassador Pigeon but was concerned because he is such a bitey, badass type bird. I said bring him even so. Based on my experience, he might be even worse with the public or he might be on his best behavior. Every pigeon is a unique individual and they are full of their own ideas.

Max and Demo Pij Leo meet Jill and Opal

Opal did great and met a lot of people and won a lot of new friends for pigeons.

Jill enjoyed discovering this new, gentle side of the fierce and mighty Opal.

MickaCoo's people and pigeon volunteers

Opal surprised all of us with just how trusting and relaxed and sweet he could be. He's an AWESOME Demo Pigeon!

And don't take our word for it. Here's a page from Opal's diary...

Dear Diary,

Boy what a day I had on Saturday! I slept in and was looking forward to a day of leisure (at which I am very expert). My plans were to preen, bathe, soak up some sun and steal every safflower seed from every dish. Oh, and of course guard MY shelf so that it STAYS MINE.

Little did I know what my staff had planned!

Without so much as the courtesy of a memo, I found myself wearing pants and being whisked off to an "outreach event". I was going to be a Demo Pij.

I learned that my job would be to look cute (duh!) and help introduce people to domestic pigeons. Fine. But pants? Really?

I wore them well and surprised everybody by being a show stealer. I was sweeter than sweet. I had them all talking and oohing and ahhing and petting me and hand-feeding me safflower seeds. Ha!

I would never admit it but I really enjoyed being held and petted and appreciated all day. My staff at my aviary tells me I'm gorgeous all the time but it was FUN to show off. Of course I did a spectacular job. They were all surprised- LOL!

I definitely feel a calling to do this "outreaching" again. (That poor goofy homer Leo was scared to death!) I'm good at it and pigeons need the PR.

Well, Diary dear, that's all for now. I see my staff is on her way and I've got some BIG new bites to surprise her with.

Love, Opal